Since the second major flooding in the Alpha Phi house, action has been taken by both the Residence Life and Facilities departments in order to assist affected members of the distressed sorority.
On Feb. 10, the Alpha Phi house woke to a second damaging flood caused by aged plumbing and an upstairs toilet overflowing.
According to E. Thayne King, director of residence life, both the Residence Life and Facilities departments responded quickly to each of the severe floods in the Alpha Phi house, the first occurring in early January.
“An outside contractor was also brought in to help remove the moisture from the house and assess the damages,” King said.
Over the seven to eight days following the second flood, repairs were made, and the girls forced to bunk with other sisters temporarily were able to move back into their own rooms.
According to Alpha Phi member Katie Monus, having to bunk together had a positive effect on all of the sisters in the house, bringing them closer literally and figuratively.
Both floods also helped Alpha Phi members realize just how valuable the people they came in contact with on a daily basis in the house were.
“Our cleaning ladies are amazing. The first time it happened they shampooed and mopped and did everything they could to try and get the horrible smell out. The school also had a professional cleaning guy come out and clean our carpet,” Alyssa McWilliams, Alpha Phi member said.
According to King, following the second flood, the plumbing department also conducted a thorough inspection of all plumbing fixtures throughout the building, and these are the only two floods that have happened to the Residence Life department’s knowledge.
Since the immediate plumbing repairs were done, Residence Life has agreed to replace the wood flooring in the main lobby of the Alpha Phi house, and have given the sorority the option to change the flooring if they would like something different.
No other greek houses have had plumbing problems or been affected to this date.