Water Main Break Causes Classes to Cancel

September 20, 2007

By Kasey Bartley

After a break in the water main on Monday, classes on MBU’s main campus were canceled beginning at noon. Many students went home, to Starbucks or to the mall to celebrate their unexpected freedom.

“Your water main is basically where all your water on campus runs. If it’s broke, everything backs up,” said Josh Hibbs, a freshman who worked for two years at a plumbing company in Kansas City.

When the main broke, President Alton Lacey was immediately notified and the President’s Cabinet was called to decide what actions should be taken. Taking into account the safety, security and comfort of students, the decision was quickly made to cancel classes. “We knew that the water would have to be turned off and we could not continue without restrooms,” said President Lacey.

Notices were posted on Blackboard, the website and on signs around campus, and an email was sent to all students detailing the event and confirming the rapidly spreading rumor of the canceled classes.

B.O. Graham Plumbing immediately sent workers to repair the water line on Monday. In the end, 113 inches of six-inch ductile iron was needed to replace tubing, which had a hole and long crack. All necessary work was completed by 8 p.m. that evening, although the break was bad enough to keep John Armstrong, a union laborer, here until Wednesday.

“There have been breaks all over the county,” Armstrong said. “There’s been a drought and a lot more water usage, which makes the pipes corrode faster.”

Classes resumed Tuesday morning, and all work on the main has been completed.

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