Failed electrical panel shuts down power in Metzger

(9:54 a.m.) Finals week was disrupted by a power outage in Metzger Hall this morning that shut down the BUBBS e-mail system and kept some employees out of their offices.

The outage began at about 6:45 a.m. when an electrical panel failed. Students received an automated message on their cell phones a few hours later announcing that the downed panel had been located and was expected to be repaired by early afternoon. Emily Soto, a Campus Safety dispatcher, said the early-afternoon timeline was a best-case scenario.

Many Metzger-based employees were still working by window light, though computer systems were crippled. Those whose offices were located in darker areas of the building were instructed to report to work later in the afternoon.

Brian Phillips, director of facilities services, was unable to be reached at press time due to the emergency, but Campus Safety confirmed facilities workers were busy equipping Metzger with generators.