Cornell Energy Management and Control Systems and the Division of Public Safety responded to a sprinkler main pipe that discharged in the 2-3 stairwell of Ganędagǫ: Hall that displaced 46 residents on Thursday evening, according to a Housing and Residential Life email obtained by The Sun.
HRL staff relocated students in rooms ending in one to 31 from all levels of the dormitory building on Thursday night due to “minor water infiltration,” the email stated.
“SCL Facilities and Building Care teams have been in the community for several hours working to extract the water and assess the repairs needed,” the email stated. “Housing and Residential Life staff members have also been on site assisting residents impacted (rooms ending in -01 to -31) relocate for the night.”
The cause of the discharged sprinkler main pipe was not identified in the email to students.
The 46 displaced residents were “relocated to other buildings on campus” according to a Friday afternoon follow up email sent to the residents of Ganędagǫ: Hall.
Sanika Saraf ’28 is one of the residents required to relocate as a result of the water damage. After spending Thursday night at Statler Hotel, Saraf was informed that she would be staying at Carl Becker Hall for the next six weeks.
“They told me that I have until next Friday to move all of my stuff out of the room, and that I have to unpack my room, put it in boxes and they'll help me move my stuff to Becker,” Saraf said. “But I'm the one that has to move myself out.”
Saraf told The Sun that she was on campus early for sorority recruitment when she noticed the water entering her suite. When she entered her room, she found her carpet and hamper completely drenched with water.
Saraf said that since she does not have all her belongings moved to Becker, she felt that she was “basically homeless.”
“I really can't move out [of Ganędagǫ: Hall], so I'm in this weird state where I'm homeless until I move all of my things to Becker which is really just inconvenient” Saraf said.
"It appears the university was running a surprise swim test verification but forgot we were on break,” said Ganędagǫ: Hall resident, Thomas Riveros ‘27, in a written response to The Sun when asked about his reaction to the flooding event. “I assume the make-up exam is scheduled for next month."
The Friday update email to residents also detailed that the side entrance and stairwell closest to Robert Purcell Community Center in Ganędagǫ: Hall are closed until assessments and repairs are completed.
Residents that remain in the building will receive temporary access to Toni Morrison Hall’s laundry space as a result of the flooding impacting the laundry room in Ganędagǫ: Hall. Additionally, several resident hall director offices will be relocated.
HRL did not include an estimated time of completion for the repairs, but noted that it will prioritize the well-being of residents.
“Throughout this process, our priority is to ensure that the Ganedago: community stays connected and strong. Because we recognize the vital role that community plays, all reassigned residents will keep their card access to Ganedago: (in addition to their new residence hall) for the duration of the repairs,” the Friday afternoon email reads.
Residents seeking support were encouraged by a University spokesperson to reach out to Elliot Hickey, the Ganędagǫ: Hall Residential Hall Director and Jie Zhao, the Assistant Director of Student Behavior & Support.
Anjelina Gonzalez is a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is a senior writer for the News department and can be reached at agonzalez@cornellsun.com.
