Students walk across campus at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in this 2005 file photo.KNOXVILLE – With spring semester beginning on Wednesday, employees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have been working around the clock to fix problems caused by the recent freeze.
According to the university, the cold has caused both plumbing and heating system problems in academic buildings, dormitories, fraternities and sororities, and sports facilities.
Dave Irvin, associate vice chancellor for facilities services, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the estimated damages so far were $250,000.
“Some of those folks haven’t gone home since Sunday night. They’ve been sleeping in their offices or sleeping in the buildings that have issues,” Irvin said. “They’ll take a six-hour cat nap and then go right back at it.”
UT Housing has offered temporary rooms to the residents of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Tau Omega fraternities, which experienced electrical problems associated with the cold weather.