Power out, students left waiting

Electrical power at Collins Center went out at 8:37 p.m. Saturday and won't return until tonight at the earliest, said Donald Burks, Physical Plant utilities coordinator.\n"All of our clocks are frozen at that magic hour," said Sara Ivey Lucas, Collins residence manager.\n"We had fire alarms going off for a time," Lucas said. "Students are doing OK, but they're tired."\n"People were stumbling into rooms making new friends," freshman Kyra Busch said.\nFire alarms went off from about 2-4:30 a.m., Lucas said, disturbing the residence center's 489 residents.\nLucas said, to her knowledge, this hasn't happened before.\nBurks said electricians have been working since Saturday night when the power went out, trying to find a faulty underground cable.\nHe said they have now determined the faulty cable is between the Health Physical Education and Recreation building and Collins. Burks said the cable insulation has deteriorated.\nWhen the power went out, it took down all of Collins and Ernie Pyle Hall. Ernie Pyle was switched to another circuit at midnight.\nNew cable will have to be ordered and installed.\nMeanwhile, all of Collins will rely on generator power.\nGenerator power will provide emergency lights and get the kitchen back in service.\n"It's not 100 percent convenience, but it's better than having none," Burks said.\nBurks said he hopes to have the new cable installed and powered up tonight, but said "that's a little iffy." But at the worst-case scenario, he said, power would return Tuesday.\nJunior Veronica Lloyd, who was working at Collins center desk, said the major complaint has been about not being able to use computers and televisions.\nShe said she was surprised that the power had gone off. "This has never happened since I lived here," Lloyd said. "Even in storms, the power doesn't go off."\nSome students were concerned about homework and tests.\n"I think my professors should give me an extension on my midterms," Busch said.\nBut not all were negative despite all the problems, including no hot water.\nSophomore Laura Brunetti had a positive way of looking at things. \n"It's good," Brunetti said. "Cold showers are brisk and wake you up"