A pipe burst Saturday on the third floor of the Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication building, causing water damage to several classrooms, offices and labs on the third floor and below.
Texas Tech maintenance staff members are currently working to dry the affected rooms with portable fans. Classes that meet in the rooms with water damage have been moved to dry locations.
Chris Cook, Texas Tech managing director of communications and marketing, said the pipe was a part of a fire sprinkler that froze from the winter weather Lubbock experienced last weekend. According to Cook, there is no major damage in the college.
Fans dry lab 054C in the Mass Communications Building on Monday.
“I thought the whole situation was well-handled,” said Bill Dean, an associate professor in the College of Media & Communication, of the university’s response to the situation.
Dean’s History of American Journalism class was moved from its original location, Room 155, to 266. The professor said he was notified of the damage Sunday, and he then informed his students of the classroom change through email.
Karien Tonnu, a psychology major on a pre-medical track, said her personality psychology class was moved from 268 in the Media & Communications Building to the English and Philosophy Building.
“She just emailed us last night,” Tonnu said of her professor, who informed the class of the 9 a.m. class’ move.
Rooms with visible damage in the mass communications building include 053, 054C, 055, 056, 057, 153, 153A, 154, 155, 168, 170, 170A, 170B, 172, 172A, 252, 253, 255, 268 and 270.
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