WT’s Shirley Hall Closed Following Water Line Break

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — An April 9 water line break will keep a West Texas A&M University residence hall closed for the remainder of the semester.

The line broke around 2:30 p.m. April 9 in the basement of Shirley Hall, flooding the mechanical room with several feet of water and damaging several electrical panels.

“We are still determining the extent of the damage,” said Weslee Green, assistant vice president for facilities and construction. “Fortunately, we’ve seen no water damage beyond the basement.”

The 137 students who lived in the hall are being relocated to other halls across campus, said Shawn Fouts, director of residential living and senior director of campus community.

“Our spring residency count is always lower, so we were able to move the Shirley Hall residents into the next higher-price level of halls for the rest of the semester,” Fouts said.

Students will move into their temporary residences through Sunday. The Office of Student Affairs has secured volunteers to help them move, said Dr. Chris Thomas, vice president of student affairs.

“The timing is unfortunate as our students are finishing out the academic year,” Thomas said. “If our students need anything else, they can reach out to me or to our Residential Living office.”

Shirley Hall opened in 1964, named for former dean D.A. Shirley. It contains four units surrounding a large courtyard.

Providing welcoming environments for students and all others on campus is a key principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—