Watered Down Information

Over the previous week, resident students in the North and South Claeys Halls woke up to find no water from their faucets, and no email concerning the event

By Ally Sullivan
News Reporter

Saint Mary's Public Safety Department operates to maintain that all SMC faculty, staff and students can conduct themselves safely within the premises of the school and facilities. As the incident management staff, they concern themselves with relaying information through email about current issues and maintenance updates such as fire warnings, air quality alerts, and power shutoffs. However, in the last week, some students awoke to an empty inbox and a dry faucet. 

Students in the Claeys found themselves with no water in the morning. This reality means no way to brush your teeth, shower, or take care of basic human hygiene in preparation for a full day of classes. One student expressed that he remembered waking up, trying to turn on the faucet, and being shocked that the faucet would not turn on. Unfortunately, even at a prestigious college such as Saint Mary’s, nothing seems to be guaranteed. 
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The most concerning part for students was the lack of communication from the Public Safety Department in regards to the water shutoff. In the moments after finding out that their water had been shut off, one student recalled: “I was mad at the moment because I didn't know how long it would last.” 

How long would it last? Students contemplated that for the remainder of the day, wondering if they would be able to grab a glass of water in their own room. The problem does not stem from the water being shut off, but rather that it was not communicated to those that were affected in a timely manner. On behalf of the Saint Mary’s community, these students would like to express that although it was a minuscule inconvenience, they expect better communication from their trusted university. 

Author's Note: Thank you to all the students who contributed information to this article