On February 2, Punxsutawney Phil declared an early spring as he did not see his shadow. Thankfully, Groundhogs Day came in time for the Red Dragons.
Amid the frigid temperatures in Cortland, New York this winter, there was a main water break in Old Main, an education building at SUNY Cortland.
At 6:16 am on Monday January 29, a SUNY Cortland alert was sent to faculty members, staff, and students via email. The email stated that all SUNY Cortland classes and events scheduled in Old Main were cancelled.
Following the incident, another SUNY Cortland alert was sent later that evening at 5:17 pm. According to the email, all classrooms and offices in SUNY Cortland’s Old Main will be open and operating on. Tuesday, Jan. 30.
“I was impressed with how quickly the problem was rectified, I thought I was going to have no class on Tuesday as well,” said a second-year SUNY Cortland student.
Damages
The main water break did cause damage to Mezzanine A (an area where classes take place daily); therefore, it was still closed, and all classes scheduled for that space were relocated temporarily. There has not been any information provided given the current status of that area.
Student Reaction
This incident caused chatter among the entire campus, specifically students. “I woke up, saw the email, and I was so excited,” said inclusive childhood education major from SUNY Cortland. Many core classes take place in Old Main, especially for education majors (which is one of the most popular majors on campus).
Given the time in which this incident took place, it was alarming news considering it was only the second week of classes. Professors addressed concerns by sending additional emails out to their students regarding course content.
While there was no additional information provided, members of the SUNY Cortland community could infer that the incident occured due to sub-freezing temperatures. The low was only 30 degrees when the initial email was sent out.
Water Shut Down
Additionally, on Wednesday January 31, another emergency alert was sent from SUNY Cortland facilities regarding an emergency hot water shutdown in Park Center, which contains athletic facilities and classrooms for a multitude of majors.
This incident, however, did not affect daily activities and usage of the building itself. The hot water was shut off until further notice.
Restrooms, sinks, and showers were still operational but at the expense of no hot water, only cold, causing slight discomfort among individuals who use those facilities.
The problem was solved within an hour of the emergency alert being issued.
“I did not even know the water was shut off until my roommate texted me. She told me to wash my hands before I left for class so that I could use hot water,” said second-year student Lilly Fogarty.
Nonetheless, Groundhogs Day arrived. As spring approaches, the SUNY Cortland community can hope that warm weather will soon come, solving these issues at hand. Until then, the maintenance crew has it all under control.