September 25th, 2009
Rodent trouble closes Commons Hall

STAFF REPORT

While there has been no breach of sanitary conditions, Texas State has closed Commons Hall for renovation due to recent problems with rodents in the building. Students regularly take meals at Commons Dining Hall.

The university is hiring a private contractor from Austin with expertise in extermination and sealing buildings to eradicate this problem. The work should be completed within the next 30-60 days and university officials will not re-certify the hall for occupancy until they are satisfied that the problem has been solved.

In the meantime, the university has added dining hours at Jones Hall Diner and have chartered a bus for students to take meals at the Harris Dining Hall until the work is completed. Students can still use their All-You-Can-Eat meal plan options at Harris Dining Hall for lunch and dinner and Jones Diner for breakfast.

Other options for student dining include The Den, Jones Diner and the LBJ Student Center.

The renovation project will cause other offices housed in Commons Hall to be relocated. The university is in the process of locating alternative sites for these offices.

Commons Hall had originally been scheduled for renovation as part of the four-phase project identified in the Campus Master Plan, which included Berreta, Laurel and Brogden Halls. The work to Berreta and Laurel Halls has been completed.

The university may consider renovating Commons Hall earlier than planned due to the current circumstances.