Burst pipe floods, damages first two floors of Shulze Hall

A heating pipe burst in Shulze Hall Wednesday, causing water damage to the first and second floors of the building.

Damage to the building was minimal, said Pollock Housing Director David Manos, although the rooms near the broken radiator received more flooding. The second floor was flooded with about one inch of water and up to an inch and a half in other areas, Manos said.

Julie McMinn (sophomore-industrial engineering), a resident on the second floor where the break occurred, said her textbooks and most of the items on her floor could not be salvaged.

"Everything on the floor and under the bed was soaked," she said. The university instructed her to make a list of damaged items but did not promise to replace her possessions.

The university recommends students buy renter's insurance to cover damages, but Manos said housing has removed the water and cleaned rugs. He is awaiting approval for the university to pay for the more serious damages.

Neither McMinn nor her roommate has renter's insurance.

"When I have seen flooding before, the university has been sensitive to the students affected and usually ruled in their favor," Manos said.

The resident assistant on the floor, Hang Zhang, said no residents were present when the incident occurred.

-- by Tim Swift