David A. Straz Jr. Hall, home to approximately 480 upperclassmen, experienced flooding just after midnight Monday, April 7. The flooding was caused by a student breaking a sprinkler by hanging a clothes hanger from it.
“The sprinkler ran for approximately 15 minutes, causing damage to six residence hall apartments on the second and third floors, as well as the first floor laundry room, break room, men’s bathroom and hall area by the water fountain,” said Eric Cardenas, the director of Public Information and Publications.
“A dozen residents were displaced while repairs took place, and one apartment is still undergoing renovation and should be completed presently. Displaced residents were housed in Urso or Morsani, and some stayed with friends. The incident was responded to by Campus Safety, Facilities, Residence Life and Tampa Fire Department,” Cardenas said.
Despite the inconveniences students experienced, including possible damaged property, the University is not liable, according to the UT housing agreement. UT is also not liable for interruption of utilities, mechanical failure of its equipment or for damage resulting from electrical problems, including electrical surge. It states that no consideration will be given to a student who suffers loss or discomfort due to these events.
Although the flooding didn’t affect many students, some were irritated at the disturbance it created, like junior advertising and public relations major Caitlin Olewinski.
“The alarm went off at around 12:30 and it took about a half hour until we got the okay to go back up, but the floor still had a few inches of water. It was more annoying than anything else. There are also huge fans trying to dry the floor and walls,” Olewinski said.
Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter blew up with students who were forced from their beds and had to wait outside of Straz in the middle of the night. “Whoever broke that fire sprinkler is definitely the most hated person in Straz right now,” was one of many tweets from that night posted by Brianne MacNeil (@brimac01).
Several resident assistants in Straz were approached about the incident but they said they were not allowed to comment.