Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Some unhappy with evacuation process
By Erin LaMourie
Staff Reporter

Residents of Beckham-Shelburne Hall were allowed to move back into the building this weekend after being forced to evacuate after a faulty transformer caused power outages Monday Nov. 19.

Residents and resident assistants said they were upset about lack of communication and felt unaware of when they could move back in, despite the problem being fixed.
The problem was resolved just before midnight Wednesday, said George Bates, electrical manager for the Physical Plant.

The hall houses about 120 students from Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta and Chi Omega sororities, said Rick Barnes, director of special projects for Campus Life. Barnes said Campus Life did not have a way to notify the students they could return to the building.

“It was left up to them to get back in the building,” he said.

Barnes said Campus Life could have e-mailed the students, but they had no idea where students were.

“This was around a holiday so the building is usually empty,” he said.

Kristin Campbell, a Delta Gamma Resident Assistant, said she did not feel Campus Life kept students or RAs informed.

“I did not know how the students with exams could get to the hotel or which hotel they were going to,” she said. “I also did not know why it was so imperative we leave at 5 p.m.”

Campbell said she did not receive any notification that residents could return to the building after Wednesday.

“I could have called all my residents and let them know they could come back early,” she said.

Campbell said her residents were rushed and confused about the situation.

Lisa Andersen, a junior speech communication major, said she did not find out about the evacuation until 4:30 p.m. and needed to be out by 5 p.m.

She said though she was rushed moving out, she thought Campus Life handled the situation as best they could.

Barnes said situations are handled based on specific circumstances, and if it had not been a holiday Campus Life may have set up a hotline number for students to get information.

Andersen said her only complaint was that after the evacuation Monday, the hall directors searched rooms and fined residents for candles and other prohibited objects.

“The power was out and we had to pack so fast,” she said. “It was like hitting us while we were down.”

Campbell said she understood why residents were fined for candles, but felt it was unnecessary.

“We should not have candles in our rooms and the (residents) are aware of that, however, many were using the candles to pack in the dark,” she said.

Bates said the problem resulted because the transformer was placed in a poor location. The transformers are heavy and hard to handle because the buildings do not have basements, he said.

“There are plans underway to improve that and relocate the transformer on the outside of the building,” he said.

Bates said many of the transformers in other buildings in Worth Hills are placed in a similar location and will also be relocated, but he does not know when. He said the budget would need to be discussed because the changes will cost about $300,000.

Erin LaMourie
e.m.lamourie@student.tcu.edu