After days of pounding rain in last week’s winter storms, UCSD is finally dry, with the exception of Tioga Hall.
Last Thursday a small flood occurred on the ground floor of Muir college’s Tioga Hall. Water quickly spread throughout the south side of the building in the early hours of the morning, prompting 17 residents to seek higher ground.
Susan Rindlaub, a Muir freshman, awoke just after 8 a.m. only to find an inch and a half of water on the floor of her room.
“”I jumped out of bed in my socks and [the water] splashed up all around me,”” Rindlaub said. “”My stuff was floating in my room.””
The source of the water was a leaky drainpipe that was supposed to divert precipitation from the roof of the 11- story residence hall to the ground floor. However, a cap that was supposed to have sealed the pipe came loose, causing gallons of rainwater to pour into the common room between two adjoining suites.
Campus officials became aware of the problem just after 8 a.m. and immediately advised affected residents to exit the building. Since then, workers have tried to dry the carpets using powerful fans.
However, soggy carpets, a musty odor and the constant noise of electric fans forced several of the residents to seek temporary living quarters elsewhere.
Consequently, the Muir Residential Life office offered several vacant rooms on the eighth floor to students wishing to relocate temporarily until conditions become once again suitable for living.
“”My parents got me a hotel room,”” Rindlaub said. “”I thought that was a better offer.””
Others were not so fortunate.
John Lobato, a first-year Muir resident, returned to his dorm after the holiday weekend to find his flooded room still in bad shape.
“”Over the weekend it smelled like somebody pissed all over the floor,”” Lobato said. “”Right now it’s smelling better. We’re getting used to the smell.””
At least two affected residents have become frustrated with the Muir Residential Life office’s handling of the flood.
Rindlaub claims that campus officials waited more than 14 hours to discuss important matters, such as compensation and relocation, with affected students.
“”The whole first day they didn’t even come talk to us,”” Rindlaub said. “”Nobody came to tell us we would get reimbursed or that we could have a room, or anything.””
Still others, such as Lobato, praised the custodians for their efforts in the clean-up process.
“”Janitorial services tried their best to take care of this, but the administration’s response has been less than overwhelming,”” Lobato said.
Because the flood was not the fault of any of the residents, the Muir Residential Life office will work hard to compensate students for damages incurred. This includes replacing ruined textbooks, soiled garments and possibly damaged computers.
Additionally, drain pipes throughout Muir College were inspected by maintenance workers in Tioga and Tenaya Hall so that further rain does not pose similar problems in the future.
