Update 2/25 (4:45 p.m.): According to Michael McNerney, director of campus safety and emergency management, the student struck by part of the window structure during the incident last night has been contacted and identified. Campus Safety has confirmed that there were no injuries last night.
At approximately 7 p.m. last night, a tree near the corner of the Bauccio Commons uprooted and fell against the building due to high winds leaving one student injured, according to Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Michael McNerney.
The incident damaged a window and a small part of the building’s roof, gutters and chimney. Commons staff said one student reported being struck by a piece of the damaged window frame. However, the student was not there when Campus Safety officers arrived on the scene, according to McNerney.
McNerney says Campus Safety is looking to speak to witnesses to check on the student’s potential injury and urges anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact them at 503.943.7161
In an email to The Beacon, Director of Facilities Services Joe Cates said facilities services are still assessing the damage.
“Out of an abundance of caution, facilities has taken several seating areas offline which are below the area where the tree is resting on the building,” Cates said. “These areas will be returned to service when we’ve verified the integrity of the roof and chimney above. Please respect the caution tape.”
Other tree branches across campus were brought down due to high winds last night. However, nothing significant aside from the downed tree near Commons, according to Cates. Additionally, the facilities services’ grounds crew is working to clear pathways on campus and is assessing other branches that may pose a risk.
Across Oregon, thousands of homes were without power Monday night due to the powerful winds, and dozens of trees fell in the Portland metro area. The National Weather Service (NWS) extended its high wind warning until 4 p.m. today.
Kimberly Cortez is the Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon. They can be reached at cortez25@up.edu.
