Houstonian: Vandalism to blame for flooding, Res Life says

From the Houstonian:

Vandalism was the cause of the flood at Sam Houston Village that occurred early last Tuesday morning, said Residence Life Director JoEllen Tipton.

"The sprinkler was burned with an open flame and hit with an instrument of some kind, causing the system to set off," said Tipton.

Sam Houston Village residents were surprised around 3:30 a.m. on April 5 when the sprinkler system on the third floor discharged large amounts water from its sprinklers in rooms 337 - 341, causing the fire alarm to trip throughout the entire building.

Water then leaked through the walls in the affected rooms and poured down to the lower floors, causing extensive damage to the structure's walls, paint, cabinets, and flooring, as well as personal belongings in individual rooms.

An estimate on damage has not yet been made, but Tipton said the damage will cost the university well into the thousands. "And that's just what we have seen so far," she said.

Sam Houston Village opened in this past August and although it has had repeated problems with vandalism, some residents are not surprised at the recent flooding. Residence Life and the Physical plant are awaiting results from a pending report by the sprinkler's contracting company to determine further action, but Residence Life, Physical Plant, and UPD are working together to resolve this matter.