Magill Hall classes canceled on Wednesday, March 5 due to sewer backup; classes to resume on Thursday

Southeast Missouri State University issued an alert to students and faculty at 2:41 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 stating Ameren has determined that a sewer backup caused the gas odor in Magill Hall. Classes in Magill Hall will be closed for the rest of the day as authorities address the issue. Classes will resume as normal on Thursday, March 6.

The event is preceded by a series of updates released throughout the morning of Wednesday, March 5.

At 9:17 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5, SEMO alerted faculty and students to avoid Magill, Rhodes and Johnson Halls due to a potential gas leak. At 10:39 a.m., SEMO announced that Rhodes and Johnson Halls had been reopened. At 11:52 a.m., the university announced that Magill Hall would reopen at noon, until the second evacuation at 2:01 p.m.

Freshman writing major Sarah McKinney was attending class in Johnson Hall when she heard the building alarm begin to sound. The alarm was followed by a digital announcement urging her to exit the building.

McKinney had suspicions that something was wrong even before she arrived to class.

“I had a feeling [something] was coming when I left for class this morning, and up the hill by Magill there was this police officer telling me to stay away from Magill, and I have to take the long way to get to Johnson,” McKinney said.

McKinney has since moved to safety. She and her friends have never experienced a gas leak emergency during their time at SEMO to her knowledge.

“I don’t know how long it’ll take because no one’s seen this happen before . . . I’m just kind of waiting to see what happens,” McKinney said.

Classes will resume on Magill Hall as normal on Thursday, March 6.