Foul play suspected in Eagle Landing flood

By MAGGIE KARRS

Saturday, Feb. 2 at 9:43 p.m. University Police received a dispatch alerting them to a flood after campus security received an alarm call in Eagle Landing, resulting in residents relocating to the Anderson Center.

The flood took place in the south side stairwell between the first and second floors of the complex.

The water came from a discharge line in the stairwell as a result of a control valve cover being removed manually.

James DeLoatch, Campus Police business manager, stated that the flood may have been a purposeful act, and that nothing of this nature has occurred before, though there have been incidents of vandalism in residence halls.

“The most disturbing thing was that it might have been a malicious act,” DeLoatch said.

Though four occupied rooms on the first floor were flooded, the water was removed and no significant damage occurred.

According to the Free Lance-Star, the Fredericksburg fire department initially thought there was a gas leak in the building.

Students were evacuated from Eagle Landing for over two hours, and the residents whose rooms flooded could not re-enter their rooms that night.

In response to the flood, sophomore Eagle Landing resident sophomore geography major Taryn Payne said, “I feel bad for whoever’s rooms were flooded because they weren’t able to go back for the night.”

Campus security is investigating the flood and encourages anyone with information regarding the flood to speak with Campus Police.