Keenum meets with Hurst residents to discuss accommodations

Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum reassured students about university housing measures being taken today [Nov. 19] when he met with Hurst Hall residents affected by water damage caused this morning by a failure of a newly installed component of the fire suppression system.

Keenum discussed a variety of options for displaced students and encouraged the women to stay at the La Quinta Inn and Suites tonight as they consider their short-term and long-term housing choices.

The damage was limited to 36 rooms in Hurst Hall and could displace as many as 72 female students in the Zacharias Village residence hall for the rest of the Fall 2014 semester. Officials said repairs will be complete prior to the Spring 2015 semester. Three-story Hurst Hall has an occupancy capacity of 250 students and was built in 2006.

Bill Broyles, interim vice president for student affairs, said affected students have several choices, with one of the premier options being to continue their stay at La Quinta Inn and Suites through the end of the semester.

Residence halls are scheduled to close Dec. 13, and university administrators have secured a block of rooms to accommodate all the students at the local hotel through the same date, with the exception of this coming Friday and Saturday nights [Nov. 21-22]. Representatives at La Quinta Inn and Suites said their rooms already were booked on those dates because of the scheduled MSU football game against Vanderbilt. Students who check out on Friday may return to the hotel Sunday with no more interruptions in their stay, Broyles said.

He said students also will have the option of early termination of their campus housing contracts if they choose to relocate to an apartment or sorority house space instead. He added that the university is assisting students who are interested in off-campus apartments by providing a list of partners who have agreed to offer affected students short-term leases through May.

"We are trying to accommodate these students who are being inconvenienced through no fault of their own, and we have come up with three options that we believe will meet the variety of student needs and preferences," Broyles said. "On campus housing is available to any student who prefers that option, although roommates may be temporarily separated. Hotel spaces have been secured by the university, and we also will assist students who want to find off-campus apartments," he added.

MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said the Hurst Hall water damage was caused by new components of the fire suppression systems that were being installed as a system upgrade.

"At this time, we are evaluating both the failed component and the installation of the component in trying to determine the cause of this accident and to take immediate steps to correct the problem," Salter said.

After the Ruby Hall fire suppression pipe burst caused by record low temperatures in January, MSU implemented a preventive maintenance protocol that proactively suctions water from the dry pipe fire suppression system whenever temperatures dictate. That protocol was followed during the recent cold snap, Salter said.

"We are still assessing damage to Hurst Hall and still assessing the implications of this component failure," said Salter.

MSU's Department of Housing and Residence Life will be assisting impacted students as they transition to other housing opportunities both on and off campus. Students are urged to call 662-325-3555 or email housing@saffairs.msstate.edu for additional information.

For more information on Mississippi State University, visit www.msstate.edu.