Twitter/@BozodoHere(NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.) — A widespread power outage at two of Rutgers University’s New Jersey campuses has left 90 buildings in the dark, forced 3,000 students out of 39 residence halls, and prompted the cancellation of all evening classes, officials said Wednesday.
“Due to a series of power outages on the Cook/Douglass campus, the University is undertaking several measures to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff in those locations,” Rutgers announced of the outages at the Cook and Douglass campuses, both located in New Brunswick, on its Facebook page at 12:30 p.m.
The post continued, “Currently, approximately 90 buildings are experiencing intermittent power issues, including 39 residence halls. We have been working with PSE&G technicians to resolve the issues, but due to the ongoing nature of the outages, we are taking the following actions.”
The university then announced on its Facebook page at 4:18 p.m., “Due to the ongoing issue of intermittent power outages on the Cook/Douglass Campuses, all evening classes on those campuses are canceled.”
Evening classes are cancelled on Cook/Douglass due to the power outage at #Rutgers. Check here for more info: https://t.co/hpqQiQbDKR
— Rutgers University (@RutgersU) September 14, 2016
Rutgers provided transportation to its other campuses for the thousands of displaced students, who were forced to spend the night in cots in common spaces, such as gymnasiums.
“Residential populations in affected buildings will be relocated to temporary lodging,’ read a message on Rutgers’ website. “Buses will be running from Cook/Douglass to Busch and Livingston campuses to assist students with their transition.”
“I just finished packing,” student Isa Judd told ABC-owned WABC in New York. “I’m going to study at the library right now and then come pick up my stuff and move into the gymnasium. It’s going to be tough.”
Another student, Dana Ikeda, also told WABC, “It’s a little stressful right now, I’ve kind of been running around different campuses since there’s no Wi-Fi or electricity here so it’s been a long day.”
oh rutgers pic.twitter.com/hHX47Vv9Z8
— Kristinaaa (@KristinaKong1) September 14, 2016
The university said on its website that it could not provide students with a timeline of when they could return to the residence halls. “We do not know; although we know that all the resources available to Rutgers to solve this issue have been deployed,” the site read.
Students were encouraged “to bring with you only essentials that you will need such as pillow, blanket, toiletries, any personal medication, towel, change of clothing.”
University officials assured students, though, that “there will be increased security in the closed halls.”
A spokesperson for the utility PSE&G told WABC in a statement that the outages on the Cook campus appear to be caused by an internal equipment problem within the college’s network.
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