Arkansas Tech University responded to a power outage on its Russellville campus Sunday, Sept. 1, by activating resources necessary to provide for the safety and comfort of students remaining on campus during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The outage, which was first reported at approximately 9 a.m. Sunday, affected a dozen facilities on campus during the morning and early afternoon hours. Personnel from Entergy Arkansas and the ATU Office of Facilities Management collaborated throughout the day to identify the source of the outage and restore service.
By nightfall, only two residence halls — Paine Residence Hall and Turner Residence Hall — were without electricity.
Personnel from the ATU Department of Public Safety, ATU Department of Residence Life and ATU Division of Student Affairs contacted the residents of those two facilities. Joshua McMillian, chief of the ATU Department of Public Safety, reported that the temperature inside the affected buildings was holding steady and that students in Paine Residence Hall and Turner Residence Hall were comfortable as of dusk Sunday evening.
Appropriate personnel were available overnight Sunday to assist the approximately 26 students staying in Paine Residence Hall and the approximately 20 students staying in Turner Residence Hall. Battery-powered fans and lights were made available to residents. Officers from the ATU Department of Public Safety increased their patrols in the areas without electricity Sunday night.
Baswell Techionery, where electricity and air conditioning were in service, remained open to provide the residents of Paine Residence Hall and Turner Residence Hall with a lounge option.
As of 5:40 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, McMillian reported that power was restored to Paine Residence Hall and Turner Residence Hall. The only facility on campus without power at daybreak Monday was Dean Hall.
Power was restored at Dean Hall at approximately 2 p.m. Monday.
