2008 Woodie Awards
Power outage forces resident relocation
By: Lanz Christian Banes
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: News
However, several students said they were asked to leave well before 8:15 p.m.
Roommates on 4 East Lauren Flecke, a junior science education major, and Edana Dillard, a sophomore journalism major, said their RA told them had to leave at approximately 7 p.m.
"She (the RA) told us it was for our safety," Flecke said.
Flecke, Dillard and approximately six of their friends took refuge in a single room at a hotel where their friend worked. They shared two regular beds and two rolling beds, Dillard said.
Both Dillard and Flecke agreed that having everyone leave the dorms was probably the best idea, though Flecke felt inconvenienced.
"It was extremely horrible," Flecke said about the evacuation. "It was bad enough having the power out."
Flecke, Dillard and their friends returned to campus at about noon the next day.
Similarly, sophomore Bobby Williams, a resident of 3 East, was also surprised at the sudden need to leave the dorms.
"I came back (to the residence halls) to see a group of people outside, and I was told we wouldn't be able to stay in the dorms that night," Williams said. "It's sort of strange being told that you wouldn't be allowed to stay in your home."
Williams said he did not feel very informed, and that there was a flaw in communication between residents and Res Life.
However, Junior Andrew Roberts, a psychology major who also resides on 3 East, said he did not feel surprised at all by the evacuation.
"I've been in St. Louis all my life, and I know that, when the power goes out, it takes Ameren forever to get it back (on)."
Roberts said he thought it was logical to evacuate and ended up staying the night at a friend's house. However, the lack of electricity wasn't entirely a bad thing.
"I thought the power outage was inconvenient, but I thought it was interesting that everyone opened up their doors because there was no air conditioning (and went outside)," Roberts said. "It felt like a communal environment."
Roommates on 4 East Lauren Flecke, a junior science education major, and Edana Dillard, a sophomore journalism major, said their RA told them had to leave at approximately 7 p.m.
"She (the RA) told us it was for our safety," Flecke said.
Flecke, Dillard and approximately six of their friends took refuge in a single room at a hotel where their friend worked. They shared two regular beds and two rolling beds, Dillard said.
Both Dillard and Flecke agreed that having everyone leave the dorms was probably the best idea, though Flecke felt inconvenienced.
"It was extremely horrible," Flecke said about the evacuation. "It was bad enough having the power out."
Flecke, Dillard and their friends returned to campus at about noon the next day.
Similarly, sophomore Bobby Williams, a resident of 3 East, was also surprised at the sudden need to leave the dorms.
"I came back (to the residence halls) to see a group of people outside, and I was told we wouldn't be able to stay in the dorms that night," Williams said. "It's sort of strange being told that you wouldn't be allowed to stay in your home."
Williams said he did not feel very informed, and that there was a flaw in communication between residents and Res Life.
However, Junior Andrew Roberts, a psychology major who also resides on 3 East, said he did not feel surprised at all by the evacuation.
"I've been in St. Louis all my life, and I know that, when the power goes out, it takes Ameren forever to get it back (on)."
Roberts said he thought it was logical to evacuate and ended up staying the night at a friend's house. However, the lack of electricity wasn't entirely a bad thing.
"I thought the power outage was inconvenient, but I thought it was interesting that everyone opened up their doors because there was no air conditioning (and went outside)," Roberts said. "It felt like a communal environment."
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