Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Blown transformer displaces students
By Heather Christie
Staff Reporter

Approximately 120 sorority members either spent Monday night in a hotel or were headed home early for the holidays after power outages forced evacuations of some residence halls.

The students were evacuated from Beckham-Shelburne Hall late Monday afternoon after water leaking in to the basement blew a transformer and caused a power outage, said Rick Barnes, director of special projects for Campus Life. Students were asked to evacuate the building by 5 p.m. Monday.

Erin Munger/PHOTO EDITOR Lauren Allen, a junior finance major, prepares to leave the Delta Gamma House Monday. A blown transformer forced residents out of Beckham-Shelburn Hall.

Barnes said students who did not have exams this week were granted excused absences and may leave for the Thanksgiving break. Those with exams must take them and will be lodged in local motels. Other class assignments, like papers or computer assignments, will be deferred until after the break, Barnes said.

“If they don’t have an exam, Chancellor (Michael) Ferrari and (Provost) Koehler excused their absence for the next two days so they are free to go home for Thanksgiving,” Barnes said.

Mary Nelle Kirk, an assistant for the chancellor’s office, said TCU would pay for the rooms.

Jenna Graham, president of Pi Beta Phi and senior accounting and finance major, said she thinks the situation is being handled well by the university.

“They’ve offered to put us up in hotels,” Graham said. “It’s difficult for us but no one could have foreseen this, and I know TCU will work with us to help us out as much as they can.”

George Bates, the electrical manager for the Physical Plant, said the building’s hot water line valve leaked and sprayed across the basement, hitting the transformer which furnished power to the building.

The burned transformer will be removed and a new one should be in place sometime today. Repairs will likely not finish before Wednesday.

“There is not a mechanism to get temporary power in there that would be quick enough to meet tonight’s requirements, Barnes said. “I’m just trying to find transformers.”

The power outage is a different problem than the power outage last week, Barnes said.

Barnes said TXU Electric and TCU maintenance are working together to fix the problem.

Lauren Allen, a resident in Beckham-Shelburne Hall, said she was in class Monday morning when they evacuated the building. When she came home from class, there was a posting on the door saying the power was out.

The outages are an inconvenience because many students do not have flights home until Wednesday, said Melissa Darling, a junior nursing major.

“Not knowing where we’re going to stay and being told we have just a half hour to move out is just really difficult for us,” she said.

Margaret Jensen, a sophomore nursing and Spanish major, said she feels inconvenienced because she has to pack and she has two tests tomorrow.

“Accidents happen, so if (the power outages are) going to be hazardous to my health then (the evacuations are) fine,” Jensen said. “If it’s not hazardous to my health, then I think it’s ridiculous that they’re moving us out so fast.”

Stephanie Williams, the Beckham-Shelburne program coordinator, said she is glad safety precautions have been taken for residents.

“I’m glad they’re being extra cautious because it’s better safe than sorry when it comes to the safety of students,” Williams said.

Staff Reporter Jordan Blum contributed to this report

Heather Christie
h.j.christie@student.tcu.edu