South side of Whitley closed due to falling bricks

Bricks falling from the top of Whitley Hall last night prompted A&M-Commerce officials to close the south side of the building to students.

At about 8:30 p.m. yesterday, an IRIS alert was sent to students advising them to avoid Whitley Hall because of falling debris. Unconfirmed reports from the University Police Department said that a 20-by-20 foot section of brick had fallen from the top of the building and crashed onto the parking lot below. No one was injured in the incident; however, cars were damaged by the falling debris.

Director of Residential Living and Learning Dennis Koch said the south side of Whitley will remain closed until a contractor can inspect the area from which the bricks fell early tomorrow morning. Until then, students will only be able to use the front entrance.

"A few bricks fell off from the top near the roof, so they have structural engineers coming out first thing in the morning and we will be able to tell more," Koch said. "What we're going to do is cordon off that area so nobody can come through that way."

Koch said an initial inspection has been done and it appears the bricks fell off the building because of natural deterioration.

"Facilities has been up on the roof," he said. "It just looks like from the rain, wind and a little old age, some of the bricks have come lose. Being at the top of the building, it's a little scarier."

More on this story as it develops.