November 9, 2023

Dear faculty, staff, and students,

First and foremost, I want to extend a sincere thank you to our facilities and student affairs teams, who leaped into action following the natural gas outage impacting our communities. I also want to especially thank Jeff Lannigan, John Young, and Dan Richards from Facilities Services, who extended a helping hand to Pullman Regional Hospital last night, fixing their backup boilers so the hospital could remain fully operational. Thank you to all these groups and individuals for going above and beyond to ensure that our community stays safe and warm.

As we head into the long weekend, the Compton Union Building (CUB) and the Chinook Student Center will remain open 24 hours a day, Friday through Sunday, and will be available to anyone in the WSU or greater Pullman community who needs a warm place to stay. Please see the frequently asked questions below for additional details on campus operations and these facilities.

Again, thank you, as always, to our teams for your ongoing support of our community. I am grateful to live in a place where the phrase “Cougs help Cougs” rings true. Go Cougs!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth S. Chilton
WSU Pullman Chancellor
Provost and Executive Vice President

Natural Gas Emergency Shutoff FAQs

Q: Will food be available in the CUB and Chinook?

A: Unfortunately, our dining centers rely heavily on natural gas to operate, so we are unable to provide food service to the community. Dining centers will remain open with limited offerings over the weekend for students. Individuals can bring drinks and snacks with them. Please remember that WSU Pullman is a tobacco-free campus, and alcohol is prohibited in both these buildings.

Q: Will beds and bedding be available in the CUB and Chinook?

A: Neither facility has bedding or beds/cots available. Individuals are welcome to bring bedding, sleeping bags, etc.

Q: Are showers available on campus?

A: The Chinook has hot water and limited shower facilities available for use. Individuals must bring their own towels and toiletries.

Q: Can I bring my pets to the warming shelter?

A: At this time, only service animals are allowed in the CUB and Chinook.

Q: Where can I park on campus?

A: Starting at 5:00 p.m. this evening, permits are not required in orange, green, yellow, red, crimson, gray, and blue zones. Payment is not required in the Smith Center Garage, Library Garage, and all AMP Hourly spaces on campus. Please note: Restricted spaces will remain in effect. These areas include disability, load/unload, service, reserved, fire zones, and specially signed areas. Please visit the Transportation Services website for a current parking map.

Q: Where can I find more information on when service will be restored?

A: Please visit the Avista Utilities website at myavista.com/outages/wp-updates.

Q: I live in university housing and do not have heat. What should I do?

A: Please refer to the communication you have received from WSU Pullman Housing. If you have further needs, please contact your hall or apartment staff.