PULLMAN — WSU officials are working with the 24 students displaced by the early Saturday morning fire that destroyed or damaged 12 apartments in the Chief Joseph Complex.
Several units within the Division of Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity, in cooperation with the Red Cross, are assisting the fire victims who are in need of food, clothing and a place to stay.
“We know this incident has caused a big disruption in the lives of these students,” said Chris Wuthrich, WSU dean of students. “We are doing everything we can to make sure their immediate needs are met and are working with them to identify new places for them to live.”
Many of the students have been temporarily assigned living space in McEachern Hall on campus. Most have already been assigned to new university apartments and will relocate as soon as the apartments are ready for occupancy.
Since there are a limited number of apartments available, students also have the option to stay in a WSU residence hall and pay the same rate they paid to live in their Chief Joseph Apartments until the end of the spring semester.
WSU officials and others are assisting the fire victims in a number of other ways.
Staff members in the Office of the Dean of Students are available to assist fire victims in contacting their professors as well as proving access to emergency loans. WSU Housing Services is offering to wash any clothing or bedding free of charge. Staff members in Counseling Services, located on the second floor of the Lighty Building, are ready to meet with students needing support. The Student Book Corporation (Bookie) is offering up to $200 to replace textbooks for those students who lived in the apartment units most impacted by the fire.
Any of the fire victims who may need additional assistance are encouraged to contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 335-5757.