A pipe that burst on the north entrance of Studebaker West Complex Sunday afternoon triggered a fire alarm, making students wait while the Muncie Fire Department, the University Police Department and Housing and Residence Life worked to make repairs.
Matt Kovach, assistant director for Housing and Residence Life, said the fire suppression system, which included the fire sprinkler system, caused the pipe to burst then flooded the first floor as well as part of the basement. He said none of the student rooms were affected.
Lt. Bob Scott from the Muncie Fire Department said they shut down the water supply, but much of the first floor was affected.
Kovach said the staff had to clean and make sure the elevators and fire alarm systems were working fine.
"We're making sure the safety things are taken care of before we re-enter folks into the building, and so students were relocated where it's warm," he said.
Some students who were told to evacuate the building stayed at Noyer until they were given the all clear. In the meantime, some students gathered to watch the Chicago Bears game in the lobby.
Kristina Patzkowsky, a freshman math education major, was playing Apples to Apples with friends and other Stu West residents while they waited for their hall to re-open.
"When I first heard the alarm I was like, ‘whatever.' I thought it was a drill," she said. "But then I heard what had happened so that meant we had to leave and wait for a while, but it's not a big deal."
Hannah Peterson, a speech-language pathology major, said she had just woken up from a nap when she heard the alarm.
"I just grabbed my laptop by instinct," she said. "I heard what happened and thought ‘well, there's nothing I can do about it.' I'm a little concerned because I live in the first floor, but there's nothing I can do."
Students at Noyer were given the all-clear about two hours after the incident.
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