Students Evacuated from East River Hall 

Students in East River Hall were evacuated from their rooms on September 23 due to a water issue in the residence hall.

Karl Hatton, vice president of admissions and student development, said a main drainage pipe collapsed in the building, causing the water issue.

“The main drainage pipe collapsed and needed to be replaced,” Hatton said. “It caused some backup into the first floor of East River Hall. The water had to be shut off for a few days, (and) there was standing water that created subsequent water damage to parts of the first floor.”

Students were temporarily relocated to a local hotel or stayed with friends on and off campus. Andrea Stinson, resident director at East River Hall, spoke about how the water problem affected her.

“I suddenly woke up one morning and had water standing in the kitchen floor and hallway,” said Stinson said, who also serves as an assistant coach for men’s and women’s basketball. “I thought it was just a leak and cleaned it up. After (basketball) practice, I returned and had even more water in the bedroom and the rest of the suite. I then knew it was not just a leak. I had clothes, shoes, and other things soaking wet. My room had been totally flooded.”

Stinson was also relocated to a local hotel with other students. Gracia Keen, another resident at East River Hall, talked about how the water break was “inconvenient, to say the least.” Keen said she had had problems with her car tire the weekend before the evacuation, so she had no way of driving to and from the hotel where she was relocated with her suitemate, whom she had carpooled with. 

“I know this was extra stress for my suitemate and myself between carpooling, classes, and the overall sudden change of course,” Keen said. “A situation of sudden change is worrisome for anyone, especially a college student-athlete nearing midterms. Through the commotion, I felt unprepared. I would forget to pack things that I needed, I was uncomfortable staying in a place I was not familiar with, and I was no longer in a school-oriented mindset.” 

East River Hall residents were temporarily relocated for two nights and returned to their rooms on September 25. At this time, there have not been any other problems with the main waterline at East River.