The Nicholls telephone system continues to have disruptions in service three days after a lightning strike is believed to have damaged the University’s communication system. Mike Davis, Assistant Vice President for Administration, said approximately half of the Nicholls phone system had been restored as of Wednesday morning.
According to Davis, the quality of reception might be substandard at times, but technicians hope to return the entire system to normal by late Wednesday afternoon.
All campus telephone extensions except for one extension in University Police were unable to make or receive phone calls beginning Sunday evening.
Temporary phone numbers have been established for the Controller’s Office and enrollment services while the University attempts to restore communications on and off campus.
“The University administration is doing everything within its power to restore the campus phone system, which was severely damaged by lightning Sunday,” according to a statement released Tuesday on the University’s Emergency Preparedness Web site. “Campus officials are working alongside representatives of AT&T and the Office of Telecommunications Management in Baton Rouge to fashion a temporary solution for critical campus phone numbers – as well as a long-term solution for the entire system.”
In addition to damaging the telephone system, the lightning is believed to have caused a fire in the Student Publications and University Printing building on Sunday evening. University Printing and Design Services, the La Pirogue student yearbook and The Nicholls Worth student newspaper offices occupy the building.
The University reported no injuries caused by the fire. The building remains closed until officials can determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
The administration contracted ServiceMaster Clean to begin cleanup and plans on reopening portions of the building on Friday.
Anyone needing to contact the University should call the general information temporary phone number at (985) 387-2237. For additional temporary numbers, visit the Nicholls Web site at www.nicholls.edu.
