During a concert this evening in the Campus Center’s Emerson Suites, a number of audience members began dancing in a synchronized jumping rhythm. That movement resulted in some visible flexing of the flooring, and corresponding flexing of the ceiling in the IC Square food court one floor below. Some sheet rock in the IC Square ceiling also cracked, and small pieces of it fell to the floor.
Campus Center management and the Office of Public Safety worked with the performing artist to bring a stop to the jumping, and the show ended safely. No one was hurt, and both rooms were safely cleared with no injuries reported.
The Office of Facilities is assessing the damage to both the floor and the ceiling in Emerson Suites and IC Square. Out of an abundance of caution, the college is closing Emerson Suites and IC Square until a structural assessment can be conducted by an engineer. The Campus Center Dining Hall was not affected, and will be open for normally scheduled hours tomorrow.
There are several events scheduled for the Campus Center on Sunday, and the college will be working with event sponsors to make alternative arrangements as needed. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
As always, the safety of our campus community comes first. We appreciate the cooperation of everyone who worked to safely end Saturday night’s performance, and ask for your continued cooperation as we work to bring the entire Campus Center back online.
Rosanna Ferro
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20190209232242957