UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — DeSales University planned to reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday, roughly 17 hours after it ordered hundreds of students to evacuate certain residence halls and urged all others to return to their family homes in response to campuswide power outages Wednesday.
But an 8 a.m. update reversed course, saying the campus would remain closed for the day due to the ongoing power outages.
The university was in a zone of widespread power outages in Center Valley, affecting hundreds of electricity customers, according to PPL Electric Utilities.
The university canceled classes Wednesday afternoon and postponed its annual Frank L. Marcon lecture set for Wednesday night.
Classes were set to resume at noon on Thursday, according to a campus announcement, which said further updates would follow. Hours later, a full closure was instead announced.
"Update 4/4, 8AM: Campus will be closed today due to the ongoing power outages. All classes are canceled for today. Further updates to follow," a Facebook post said.
Campus shuttered Wednesday
"Due to safety concerns related to a campus-wide power outage, all University Villages and the University Heights residents must evacuate by 7 p.m. this evening, if power is not restored," an emergency weather alert from the university said Wednesday night.
"For those residing in other campus housing, we strongly encourage you to return home, if it is safe for you to do so."
Carolyn Steigleman, associate vice president of marketing and communications, said the university opted to make the call out of safety concerns for students after backup batteries and power began to run out at University Heights and University Villages.
University Villages housing holds about 300 students. The University Heights townhouses aren't as large and are reserved mostly for upperclassmen and graduate students.
"Our response from the community has been tremendous. Many families have taken in their children's roommates and friends — and that's really fortunate to see."Carolyn Steigleman, associate vice president of marketing and communications at DeSales University
About 3,000 students attend the school, formerly Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales. They include about 2,200 undergraduates and 800 graduate students.
For on-campus student residents, Steigleman said local families have stepped up to help provide places to stay.
"Our response from the community has been tremendous," she said.
"Many families have taken in their children's roommates and friends — and that's really fortunate to see."
Other students have been encouraged to work with the university's residence life team to find alternative arrangements.
DeSales University inclement weather procedures say decisions are made by 5 a.m. The process is repeated by 2 p.m. for evening classes.
Updates can be found on the university's emergency weather alerts page.
