In response to a gas leak in an above-ground pipe near the front of the Student Union, University Facilities shut down the natural gas in the building last Wednesday.
According to officials, National Fuel fixed the leak and corresponding gas meter after someone reported the smell of gas.
"They isolated it, fixed it, and put us back online," said Scott Ludtka, assistant director of facilities operations. "Anytime someone smells gas we respond immediately."
Ludtka said University Facilities does not know how long the leak had been a problem. He added the leak was not particularly harmful to those near it, but that it was not taken lightly nonetheless.
"Any leak is serious," he said.
Due to the shutdown, everything that relies on natural gas in the Student Union was affected, including the heating, hot water, and kitchen appliances in Putnam's.
According to John Brady, assistant director of dining services, Putnam's coordinated with University Facilities to shut down all affected equipment and then switched for the day to a cold menu rather than close the entire food court.
"We don't want to inconvenience the students, and we still want to give them a healthy product," Brady said.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
