The City of Jackson issued an update yesterday evening indicating that although the city has made gains in the recovery of area water pressure, the City Water Maintenance Department is still in the process of fixing water main breaks. As pressure slowly returns throughout campus, please do not attempt to flush toilets or utilize other water fixtures until they can be inspected. In addition, if you should notice water accumulating, please call campus safety so that the valves to fixtures can be turned off until they can be inspected and/or repaired.
Because the timeline from the city is still uncertain, the college’s emergency management team will make an announcement by no later than noon Saturday, February 27, regarding if virtual classes will be extended beyond Friday, February 26.
Port-a-potties have been added near the residence halls, including two in Olin Circle, one behind Susanna Hall, one in between the south gate and Ezelle Hall and one near New South Hall/Campus Safety. Please utilize these facilities as you are able. In addition, water bucks should remain near the designated first floor restrooms. Port-a-potties are also available on the plaza between the College Center and the HAC and in the parking lot of the Academic Complex.
In addition, please pay attention to these ongoing updates:
For students:
• Shower trailers are located in the parking lot of the Academic Complex. To enhance the security of the area, the gate from Park Avenue will be closed and locked until further notice. The shower trailers are gender-specific and ADA-compliant. They are available to residential students and staff on a first-come, first-served basis and will be monitored during open hours and locked at all other times. Bottled water and hand sanitizer will be located inside the shower trailers; please do not drink any water with the exception of the bottled water. Shower trailer hours are 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.
• Although still fluctuating, the water pressure is back up in Goodman Hall, and showers are available there tonight (2/25) from 6:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. as well as tomorrow, February 26, from 7:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Come to 101 Goodman and you will be issued a key to a room with a shower.
• Anyone traveling on and off campus is reminded to take the college’s COVID-19 protocols seriously; specifically maintaining social distance, tracking symptoms with Campus Clear and washing hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. There are free testing options throughout Mississippi; consult the Mississippi State Department of Health for more information. The college’s COVID-19 webpage has information specific to Millsaps College.
• The Wesson Student Health Center is back to regular hours, which may be found here.
• The college cafeteria will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for brunch/lunch and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for dinner.
• The college has partnered with The Laundry Fairy, 1046 Greymont Street, to offer residential students and staff the ability to do their laundry free of charge. Simply take your laundry, soap and Millsaps ID to between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to wash your clothes and Millsaps will pick up the tab. Students who do not have a vehicle and can’t carpool safely with another student should email studentlife@millsaps.edu to make travel arrangements.
• Need to get your mind off of things? The Office of Student Life is sponsoring the following activities for the rest of this week:
◦ Tonight/Thursday – Green Ghost Taco Truck – 5:00 p.m., HAC parking lot
◦ Friday – Bingo – 7 p.m., McMullan Lecture Hall
• Drinking water, toiletries, hand sanitizer, baby wipes and snacks are available on campus 24-7 near the student life front desk. Students are reminded to bring a backpack to help transport these items back to residence halls.
• Showers are available to all residential Millsaps students and staff at the Flowood YMCA, 690 Liberty Road, Flowood, MS, 29232, during normal operating hours. Bring your Millsaps ID card, your toiletries, a towel and shower shoes. Students who do not have a vehicle and can’t carpool safely with another student should email studentlife@millsaps.edu to make travel arrangements.
• Students are reminded to only use the designated first floor restrooms in the residence halls; all other restrooms are closed. Buckets of non-potable water are located in these restrooms to assist in the toilet-flushing process.
For Faculty:
• All classes, including evening classes, will be held remotely through Friday, February 26. Please communicate directly with your students regarding virtual class details.
For Staff:
• Essential staff and those whose supervisors have deemed necessary to come to campus for an abbreviated period of time are required to report to campus tomorrow, Friday, February 26. Essential staff are asked to contact supervisors with questions regarding on-campus operations.
• Non-essential staff are to work from home tomorrow, Friday, February 26, unless otherwise instructed by their supervisor.
The college’s emergency management team will continue to monitor the situation and will update the community as details develop. Email info@millsaps.edu with any questions. In case of an emergency call Campus Safety at 601-974-1234.
