West Texas A&M University has announced the closure of Shirley Hall for the remainder of the semester following a significant water line break that occurred Tuesday afternoon.
According to university officials, the water line ruptured at approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 9 in the basement of Shirley Hall. The break resulted in several feet of flooding in the building’s mechanical room, damaging key electrical panels and forcing a temporary shutdown of the building.
“We are still determining the extent of the damage,” said Weslee Green, assistant vice president for facilities and construction. “Fortunately, we’ve seen no water damage beyond the basement, but the electrical systems have been significantly impacted.”
As a result of the damage, the university has decided to close Shirley Hall for the rest of the semester to ensure student safety and allow for necessary repairs. The hall, which has housed students since its opening in 1964 and is named after former dean D.A. Shirley, typically accommodates more than 130 students.
Shawn Fouts, director of residential living and senior director of campus community, confirmed that all 137 students residing in Shirley Hall are being relocated to other residence halls across campus.
“Our spring residency count is always lower, so we had the capacity to move students into other halls,” Fouts said. “They are being placed in higher-price-level residence halls, but no additional charges will be passed on to students for the upgrade.”
Relocation efforts began shortly after the incident, with students expected to complete their moves by Sunday. The Office of Student Affairs has organized a group of volunteers to assist with the process, helping ease the transition during what is already a busy time of year.
“The timing is unfortunate as our students are finishing out the academic year,” said Dr. Chris Thomas, vice president of student affairs. “We’re doing everything we can to support them. If any student needs assistance, they are encouraged to reach out directly to me or the Residential Living Office.”
