It could have been much worse.
That is the general consensus around campus after a broken sprinkler head in Carrollton Hall threatened to make the building uninhabitable for an unknown amount of time last week.
The flood resulted in wet floors, and some students had items damaged, but it’s safe to say the university responded well to this incident.
By 1:30 a.m., staff from Student Affairs, Residential Life and Physical Plant, among other departments, came to the university when they could have been sleeping comfortably in their dry homes. They addressed the students of Carrollton Hall, assuring them that things would be ok—and they were.
Officials were being realistic. Craig Beebe, director of Residential Life, told students their best option was to stay with a friend in another residence hall or off campus. There was no way over 300 people would sleep comfortably on the hard floor of the St. Charles Room.
Students were able to grab a few things from their room, even though the building was dark, rank and wet, thanks to the efforts of resident assistants from every residence hall on campus, as well as Student Affairs professional staff.
In order for things to have gone as smoothly as they did, teamwork was required. Student Affairs worked with Residential Life to assure students’ housing needs were being met in the best way possible given the circumstances, Physical Plant and WFF took care of maintenance of the building, and the Loyola University Police Department ensured the security and safety of those displaced.
Faculty members were also gracious and understanding in rescheduling test dates and offering alternate test times for those adversely affected by the incident.
Carrollton Hall reopened at 1 p.m. the next day, which was incredible, considering the expectations that the building would be closed for several days while cleanup efforts were under way.
The fact that Carrollton Hall was up and running again (albeit with a few extra fans and dehumidifiers) the next day after the terrifying scene of a completely darkened building with water flowing out of doors and windows surrounded by fire trucks the night before is truly a credit to the hard work and cooperation of the Loyola community.
