[El Scorcho]

See, the thing is, something very comparable happened to me (see above) with even less notice than they got. I woke up to standing water in my room. And I don't remember me or any of my three roommates getting that upset over it. It was just something that happened. Stuff happens.

I see yours as a freak accident that they could not have seen coming. Your situation sucked, yes, but it's not something that they saw coming in advance. This is something that, from all accounts, has had signs for years.

When it happened to us, it wasn't the first time it had happened. Seriously.

[jimflamesfan]

I have a story....I have a story.

When I was at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown...I used to be a workstudy for the maintenance department during the summer.

We had a Student Center that had a small cafeteria similar to the Hanger.

Outside the "hanger", there was this big metal awning with about 9 tables and maybe 36 chairs...

It snows a lot in Pennsylvania...so one day, I was sitting inside the hanger eating my Subway sub, and I looked oustide at the awning, and there was about a foot of snow there.

I said to my two friends (one was an engineering major)...I think there's too much snow on the awning, It's going to fall down...I think I should put a request in to maintenance.

My friend, the engineering major said, "No...it will support much more snow than that...look at that steel...no problem".

The next day, my two friends were eating lunch inside, and the awning collapsed outside.

No one was hurt...but it is a story to show you that we're not the only school that has unexpected problems...(and engineers can be wrong...) So going forward, it's better to be safe than risk it. Hopefully they will remedy the problems soon...

[Just John]

If I May...........


Change is never really easy. It'd be a pain to have to go through what they did. And a little complaining about it together probably brings some camaraderie and helps everyone to get over it sooner. Yea, some will complain too loud and too long.....that's the nature of the beast. The rest of them will have moved on in a few days.

It could very well be that LU would have tried to get hotel rooms for the kids but let's hope that they were too hard to book because we are going to have a ton of visitors in town for Homecoming.

[belcherboy]

Hmm. If they tear it down, I'm going to have to get a bucket of brick chips or something. Most of my time at LU was spent in that dorm. It's one of the few that actually has a name. (Maple Leaf)

I spent two years in that dorm as well! (7-1, I was the room on the corner nearest the basketball cage whose window faced the street for a year...and in the middle room the second year)

I LOVED that dorm! I never saw any problems with it when I was there (probably Fall of 1994-1996). Although it doesn't shock me that they are having problems.

Hey, I stayed on your hall for CFAW in 95. Remember me? Just kidding. I thought it was funny because I spent most of the evening in a room that had a "hidden" tv, and a nintendo. They were all covert about it. I think one of the dudes in that room always had dip in his mouth, and they always played Jeopardy on the computer. But that's not the room I stayed in. Just trying to give belcher some flashbacks.

ha ha, that was probably my room. I had a cardboard box with the tv inside it. On top of the box I had my alarm clock and other things so nobody would look inside. We had a Sega Genesis hooked up to it. We were a host floor so I had about 25 kids stay in my room that year (we were trying to keeping track of how many ended up coming to school after staying with us.....we had about an 80% success rate by our count one year)

[bigsmooth]

on WSLS last night they said that dorm 7 might be closed for the rest of the semester.

[belcherboy]

I don't feel sorry for these guys any longer! Risk: Star Wars edition?? This is straight out of revenge of the nerds!

[Fumblerooskies]

Any word on how the Refugee Village turned out last night?

[SuperJon]

Had dinner with the Film Guy and he said they had about 50 guys out there. They were all dressed like hobos and were going to do a public shave with buckets and hand held mirrors later in the night. Apparently the guys were just having fun with it. Apparently Dwayne Carson was pushed around in a shopping cart too. I'm waiting for videos or pictures to pop up.

[thepostman]

I saw them out there last night, it was pretty funny...Johnny Moore came by the courtyard just to see the whole thing which was funny...

they were in good spirits just having fun....

[SuperJon]

[ATrain]

I went out there after the volleyball game...they just seemed to be having fun.

[LUconn]

looks like they may be back sooner than thought

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... 7364&path=

some notable/funny quotes:

About 130 Liberty University students who were moved from their dormitory Oct. 19 after an inspection revealed cracks in the building may be asked whether they want to return as soon as next week, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said this week.

Falwell said he is hopeful that engineers will deem most of the building safe for residents after workers install the rods next week.

most?

[PAmedic]

Falwell said he is hopeful that engineers will deem most of the building safe for residents after workers install the rods next week.

most?

yeah- probably just the bottom part. Don't worry about the top part- what could happen?

[JK37]

From what I've heard, the type of repairs they are doing to Dorm 7 is essentially what was done in Charleston, SC after a massive earthquake (6.5+) in the 1800's affected over 70% of the city's structures, made worse by the fact that half the downtown area sits on man-made landfill of a river/swamp area.

The city had no funds to tear down and rebuild. Therefore, the invention of "steel-rodding" the buildings was derived. Large screws with bolts on each end are run through the buildings, usually between floors, and tightened by turning/screwing the bolts on the ends, bringing the outer walls back upright. Today, the bolts are still easily seen in many of Charleston's oldest structures in the historic districts.

[JK37]

ps - I lived in that dorm for 2.5 years myself. Loved every moment(even my Calvinist RA). Oh the pranks we pulled on him!!

[Hold My Own]

I havent checked on this thread in a while....wow, that whole hobo thing they all did was brilliant...crazy yet creative kids, gotta love it

[TDDance234]

November 6, 2007

A contractor from near the Richmond area has been employed to make repairs to building seven.

They have installed 14 structural reinforcement rods in the pilasters (supporting beams) of the building.

Helical anchors are now being installed around the outside of the building, in the ground. There will be a total of 120 – 124 of these anchors.

The plan is to have ten of these anchors installed by the close of business today. These anchors are screwed in until they reach a set level of pressure. Once that pressure is achieved, the building is attached to the anchor. These anchors act as supports to the building. Below is information from the web regarding the Helical system.

“The Helical Pier Foundation Repair System is founded on the principle of turning an extendible screw-anchor through the unstable upper soil and into the stable, subsoil strata. The load-bearing ability of the underlying soil is continuously measured by monitoring the torque applied to the Helical Pier as it screws through the layers of soil. Once the desired torque is reached, adjustable brackets link the end of each pier shaft to the building foundation or wall it is securing.”

A number of inspectors are on sight reviewing the work. There is also an engineering firm that drew up the plans for repair and they are monitoring progress. We are awaiting permission to begin moving students back in to the building. We know the students are anxious to be back together again.



November 7, 2007

An engineering firm and four different contractors are currently working on this project. Their work includes masonry repairs, helical anchor installation, concrete repairs, and flooring replacement.

In addition, Liberty University's internal construction crews are involved in different phases of the project. This includes items such as ceiling replacement and carpentry repairs.

A total of 13 helical anchors were installed by close of business November 6, 2007. The goal is installation of 10 helical anchors per day.

Updates from Dr. Hine, via the Student Affairs page.

[TDDance234]

Pics of the support systems:

http://www.liberty.edu/studentaffairs/i ... ?PID=15890

[Fumblerooskies]

Like putting bandaids on the Titanic...

[SuperJon]

Pretty much.

[El Scorcho]

Whatever. They're doing exactly what they need to do to get the building up to code right now.

I'm sure it won't be enough for you two and Tim Low (who still doesn't have a comfy mattress), but it seems like the engineers are on top of it.

[Fumblerooskies]

You're right, Scorcho...and I was simply being a smart- you know what. I do have an amicable solution though...

[El Scorcho]

I'd be fine with that. As long as I get to take the Maple Leaf plaque out of there first.

[JK37]

I have zero expertise in this area, but it would seem to me that the technical, albeit faster way of correcting this problem (which they are using) would be just as expensive as simply tearing down and rebuilding the structure. Just seems like a lot fo work for a building it shouldn't be too hard ot replace...

Maybe its just because its the middle of the semester, and I'm not screaming about all Circle Dorms needing to be torn down because they're terrible, falling apart, etc. But if we have the ability to replace/upgrade, why not?

[thepostman]

Whatever. They're doing exactly what they need to do to get the building up to code right now.

I'm sure it won't be enough for you two and Tim Low (who still doesn't have a comfy mattress), but it seems like the engineers are on top of it.

scorcho you're so feisty about this.....you have to admit this whole situation is funny