WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Fire Damaged Dorm Closed the Semester

La Crosse, WI (WXOW)-- Students learned today that Drake Hall will remain closed for the rest of the semester. The news comes after a team of environmental and engineering experts determined it would be at least two to three months before Drake would become habitable.

While the building is structurally sound, the basement, where the fire originated, reached a temperature of more than 800 degrees, so electrical and mechanical systems need to be examined.

The dorm also needs to be professionally cleaned. When UW-L administration learned of the new time-frame, rather than keep students in temporary housing, they decided to move forward with permanent solutions.

Tonight the 271 students learned where they'll live the remainder of the semester. Students also got instructions on moving out of Drake, a process that will begin tomorrow and hopefully be completed by next weekend.

When Chancellor Joe Gow asked students, on a scale of one to five, how they felt about the situation, most students voted a three. Students we spoke with say they are tired, but hanging in there.

"It's a tough situation for everyone that's involved. It's tough for the people that obviously lived in Drake, it's tough for the administration. But I think we're all doing the best we can and hopefully we'll get through it," said Sean Gardon, a Drake Hall resident. "I like that they're [the administration] approaching the housing problems before the financial. It's really comforting to know that they have our backs and they're going to do everything they can to make sure we're comfortable as soon as possible."

"It's definitely an experience," said Zach Heinkel, a Drake Hall resident. "Not what I expected for my first year of college. It's kinda hard, it's stressful. But you gotta do your homework."

Students will be able to move in to their new housing assignments tomorrow at noon. And if they decide in a few days the new room doesn't work out, UW-L will work with them to find a different solution.