Flooding in library causes temporary closure
The library was evacuated Monday morning due to flooding from the first floor bathroom. Though the carpets were still drying after the building reopened to students, there’s no lasting damage at this time. ORACLE PHOTO/MIKI SHINE
Students passing by the library Monday were greeted by a chorus from library employees to point out “the library’s closed due to flooding. Go to the Marshall Student Center to print.”
At about 10 a.m., a “plumbing issue escalated very quickly” in the first floor restroom. Before the water flow could be shut off, gallons of wastewater had flooded the lobby, Library Services Manager Scott Ryan said in an email statement.
“Evacuating the building is not take lightly, as it disrupts many academic activities, exams and group study sessions,” Ryan said. “The library staff evacuated each floor through the emergency exits of the building to avoid the main lobby.
“Monday is one of the busiest days in the building, … (and) evacuating the building is not taken lightly.”
According to Ryan, cleanup went smoothly and was finished around 1:30 p.m., however the blockage was not cleared until about 3:45 p.m.
“Unfortunately, over a thousand students were turned away during the repairs.
“The most difficult part of it all for the customer service staff was explaining the situation to so many disappointed students. We finally re-opened around 4 p.m. and services resumed with a few air blowers remaining to dry the cleaned floors.”
More Stories
USF admin’s response to suicides unclear. What we know so far.
USF’s administration will not say who or how it will prevent future suicides on campus a month after a student leapt from an upper floor balcony of the Interdisciplinary Science Building – the third suicide since fall 2022. The Oracle has asked repeatedly about which USF administrators are overseeing suicide prevention initiatives and how the […]
USF SG leaders look back on campaign accomplishments while on non-speaking terms
Student body president Cesar Esmeraldi and vice president Elizabeth Volmy reached nearly every campaign goal during their term. The one thing that didn’t persevere was their unity. The pair ended their tenure reflecting on it from separate rooms. “We’ve had a great year,” Esmeraldi said. “I’m very happy with everything we’ve built. But because of […]
USF’s ‘Take Back the Night’ allows sexual survivors to share pain, resilience: ‘Recovery isn’t easy.’
A sexual assault survivor, who was the first speaker at Wednesday evening’s “Take Back the Night,” said the hardest day of their life was not when they were assaulted – it was the day after. “When I had to call my mom and tell her how her [child lost their] virginity and tell my therapist […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
McKinley Drive closed down for death investigation, Tampa police say
The intersection between Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive was closed due to a death investigation late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department (TPD). A man shot himself after making a bomb threat in the parking lot of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), located at 11201 McKinley Drive, according to TPD. Police said […]
USF 2024-25 A&S budget to increase student organization funding in Tampa and St. Pete
The Student Government (SG) Senate approved the 2024-25 Student Activities & Services (A&S) budget for all three campuses this Tuesday, seeing an overall increase in allocated money to student organizations. The vote was 26-0, approving the budget. Related: 2023-24 A&S budget down $5 million from last fiscal year Students pay fees in their tuition – […]