Frees repairs continue

Kiley Mackie
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 1

The loud buzz of the restoration equipment may be annoying, but for second and third floors north Frees students, each raucous revolution of the fans and zip of the vacuums signal progress toward the date when all the refugees can return home.
Ethan Rowley, residence director of Frees Hall, said clean-up for the Feb. 22 Frees flood is right on schedule and students should be able to return to their rooms no later than the end of spring break.
Though that day may seem far in the distance for the 43 displaced students, Rowley said that concern for their safety is the chief reason for the extensive restoration process.
“All the rooms may look dry and smell dry,” Rowley said. “But we have to make sure everything is completely dried out so that students won’t end up getting sick later on from some mildew or something that didn’t get taken care of.”
To ensure the thoroughness of the clean-up, Rowley said the equipment from Paul Davis Restoration will be running at least another week in addition to the nine days it has already been on.
After all the equipment has been removed, Rowley and a few others will check each room to assess if anything needs to be replaced or fixed.
“If everything goes according to plan, we won’t need to replace much, if anything,” Rowley said.
If nothing has to be replaced, the predicted cost for the damage may go down.
However, Doane has yet to receive an initial damage estimate report.
Pappy Khouri, vice president of Financial Affairs said he probably won’t know the damage costs until after the restoration project is over.
The only monetary issue that has been permanently settled is the compensation offered to students who took in a temporary roommate.
These students will have their room rates dropped from a single room fee to a double room fee for the rest of the semester.
According to page 55 of the Doane College Student Handbook, “the college is not responsible for theft, loss or damage to stored items.”
Khouri has said that it is unlikely that the dispalced students will receive any compensation from the college for their inconvenience.
It is also unknown whether or not the students responsible for the broken sprinkler that caused the flood will be issued any formal sanctions.