On Saturday, August 31, a leak in the ceiling of the Linville Dining Hall caused a portion of the ceiling to collapse. Students and staff were quickly and efficiently evacuated before major damage occurred, and power to the dining hall and the four adjacent residence halls was shut off for safety purposes. 

Hartsville Fire and EMS arrived on the scene and began an inspection of the area. Around 10:30 p.m., students were given the all-clear as HFD’s inspection determined the adjacent dorms were structurally sound and safe for the students to return. Upon preliminary inspection, it appears that a 6-inch sprinkler pipe burst in the ceiling, causing the collapse. University officials have already started contingency plans for the future of dining services on campus. Meals will continue to be served with no interruption of service.

As we move through the insurance claim process, we are actively managing immediate costs for temporary solutions, which currently stand at approximately $200,000 per month. These expenses include the rental of a mobile kitchen and a climate-controlled dining facility adjacent to the DeLoach Center and additional construction-related costs. 

We are dedicated to restoring our beloved Dining Hall, a project that will take time and investment, estimated to be several million dollars. To achieve this, we need to raise $500,000 to support the restoration of the Dining Hall. So far, we have successfully raised about $178,000 for this campaign.

We are confident that, with your support, we can complete this project. Please consider donating to this vital cause. Thank you for your generosity!