Julia Sklar, Presentation Editor

On Monday, Jan. 30 a resident of suite 410 in DeKiewiet Tower accidentally activated the sprinkler in his room while removing an object that he had hung on it, causing water to gush out at 200 gallons per minute.

Students in DeKiewiet Tower were evacuated, but allowed to return to their rooms and were not relocated. Water was removed from hallways and only minimal damage has been reported in surrounding rooms. It was not immediately clear how extensive damage was, but a fourth floor resident said that suite 480, which is immediately adjacent to suite 410, had not been damaged and that suite 310, immediately below, had sustained some damage.

Suite 410 was almost entirely saturated and had been emptied of most contents on Monday evening.

Elevator service has been terminated in the Tower, according to an email sent to residents by Director of Residential Life Laurel Contomanolis. She estimated that service would be restored by tomorrow at midday, but stated that she would keep residents advised of the situation as more information became available.

“Otis Elevator, our elevator contractor, is working diligently to get the elevators up as soon as possible but has determined that electronics in the elevator panels must be dried out in order to determine what needs to be replaced and what is still functioning properly,” the email stated. “We are hopeful that at least one elevator will be up during the day tomorrow.”

Julia Sklar, Presentation Editor