Last week, a water leak in Thayer Hall led to ceiling damage in the men’s bathroom on the second floor, prompting a quick response from Residence Life and Facilities staff to address the issue.

According to Thayer Hall Resident Director Vincent Wise, the issue was first reported at approximately 5:09 p.m. on Jan. 29, when a staff member alerted him to water leaking through the ceiling of the second-floor bathroom. Wise said he immediately contacted maintenance, who arrived to assess the situation.

The staff traced the source of the leak to a pipe connected to the bathroom directly above. In order to access and repair the issue, a section of the ceiling on the second floor had to be cut out. Wise said the initial repair was completed that evening, with additional work scheduled to ensure the problem does not worsen.

“They were able to patch the pipe and prep it for further repairs later on,” Wise said. “Work is underway right now to fix the problem and prevent a major leak from happening.”

Wise also emphasized that student safety and minimizing disruption were the top priorities, especially given the cold temperatures experienced over the weekend.

“With the weather getting as cold as it did, Residence Life staff were making it a priority not to have a major flood caused by pipes freezing and breaking,” Wise said.

Facilities Services Director Tim Lucas clarified that despite initial concerns among students, the incident was not a water main break, nor did the building completely lose water service.

“There is a simple 2-inch copper drain line leaking in the third floor bathroom under the sinks,” Lucas said. “It is a slow but constant drip when water is being used, which is what leaked into the second-floor bathroom ceiling.”

Lucas explained that the hole in the ceiling was intentionally cut to allow maintenance staff access to the pipe and will be repaired once the leak itself is fully fixed.

“It is nothing major; however, it does need repaired,” Lucas said. “In order to repair it, we have to access it, which requires cutting holes in walls and ceilings.”

Maintenance staff were on-site continuing repairs, and Lucas noted that while some sinks were temporarily shut off, toilets and showers throughout the building remained operational.

“We had to shut off some water to sinks due to the leak, but all toilets and showers are fully operational throughout the building,” Lucas said.

While the leak was addressed quickly, some students expressed frustration with ongoing water-related issues in Thayer Hall. Freshman resident Cullen Shrieve described inconsistent water pressure and temperature as a recurring concern.

“The place itself isn’t terrible, but the water problems alone are enough to make me never want to come back,” Shrieve said, citing sudden shut-offs and unreliable water service as major inconveniences.

Facilities staff say they are continuing to work to fully resolve the issue and repair the ceiling once the leak is completely fixed. Students with additional concerns are encouraged to contact Residence Life or Facilities Services for further information.