UMass Boston Students Displaced as Dorm Remains Closed After Pipe Burst
BOSTON — Hundreds of UMass Boston students are navigating coursework and relocation after a burst pipe forced them from their residence hall over a week ago. While the university has arranged temporary housing in nearby hotels, many students are grappling with lost belongings and uncertainty about when they can return to their dorms.
The incident began on Monday when a sprinkler pipe ruptured on the 10th floor of the East Residence Hall, causing significant flooding. According to initial assessments, approximately 50 rooms across multiple floors were impacted by water damage. The entire building was ordered to vacate due to issues with the fire suppression system, a functioning system being required for occupancy.
The disruption has been particularly challenging for students who were caught off guard by the sudden evacuation. Sophomore Simone Trainor recounted receiving notification not through official university channels, but via word of mouth from a classmate. “I was in my lab doing dissections when a girl next to me…told me — not by email, not by a statement from the school, but by word of mouth…that I had 10 minutes to grab my things and that a pipe burst and we were being flooded,” Trainor said.
Many students reported a frantic scramble to collect essential items before being escorted from the building by police, who navigated water-covered stairwells with flashlights. Some students, like Matthew Lauro, were only able to salvage a limited amount of their possessions. “My stuff’s trapped in there. I only got a couple of clothes I was able to get out, and they stopped letting people grab stuff,” Lauro said.
The university has provided some students with temporary accommodation at the Mount Ida campus in Newton, approximately 15 miles away. However, space is limited, and many students have had to find alternative arrangements, relying on family, friends, or other residence halls. Jack Daley, an out-of-state student, expressed the difficulty of the situation, stating, “I’m an out of state student. I live almost four hours away. I can’t go home.” He noted that many students are “stuck with no clothes, no toiletries or anything.”
Beyond the logistical challenges, students have voiced frustration with a perceived lack of clear communication from the university. Katerina, a student affected by the displacement, shared, “I’ve spoken to a lot of school officials and people working with the school, the main consensus seems to be that they don’t know what they’re doing right now. They don’t know what long-term housing is going to look like.”
University officials acknowledge the disruption and are working to address the situation. Michael Metzger, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, stated, “We want to get them in as soon as possible. We’re working around the clock with both local and state officials to make sure that we’re meeting all the safety benchmarks and contractors are in here daily making sure we’re making progress.”
The university has established an emergency aid fund to provide financial support to affected students. Donation drop-offs are also being accepted on the first floor of the flooded residence hall to assist those who have lost personal belongings. Students are encouraged to visit the Clark building for support and information.
As of now, students remain uncertain about when they will be able to return to their dorms. Concerns about potential mold growth and the extent of the damage are adding to the anxiety. Peighton, a student who returned to the dorm to retrieve belongings, noted, “I noticed that my ceiling was wet, and they tore out the ceiling that was in front of my room…And we already had water damage from earlier in the year.” Samson Blum, another student, described the atmosphere as smelling of mildew.
The situation at UMass Boston highlights the challenges faced by students when unexpected events disrupt their living arrangements and academic pursuits. The university continues to work with local and state authorities to assess the damage and restore essential services, but the timeline for a full resolution remains unclear.
