University of Memphis students entering the Meeman Journalism building experienced a shock yesterday when they saw that most of the main floor had bulged into a small hill.
"It looks like a pipe burst or something," said Matt Harder, junior recording technology major. "The whole floor has expanded outward."
Contrary to appearances, this does not seem to be the case, according to workmen on the scene.
"It looks like a water problem, but underneath it is bone dry, said Gary Turner, U of M fire and safety inspector. " I am as curious as everyone else."
Staff on hand waited for an experienced brick worker to arrive.
"Well, there isn't any water accumulation that we can see at this point," Turner said. "We should have a specialist out a little later this afternoon to check out the damage."
In fact, none of the workmen present said they have ever seen damage quite like this.
"The damage appears to be the type that would accumulate slowly over time, but I would think there would have to be a substantial change in the last 24 hours for this to occur," Turner said. " I personally have never seen damage like this sneak up in a building occupied every day by students."
None of the U of M personnel were prepared to offer a hypothesis as what caused the floor problem.
"It looks like the floor expanded like wood," said Lee Diamond, carpenter for the U of M physical plant. "As to what would cause brick to behave this way, I honestly don't know."
The workers remained just as curious as passing students as they carefully surveyed and photographed the scene.
"It looks like the underlying concrete might have shifted or something," said Aubury Jones, general maintenance mechanic. "I would like to see what's going on underneath."
The situation was once compared to damage of a much more serious nature.
"The only time I have ever seen something like this was following an earthquake. The ground gets excited and shifts around." Jones said. "I'm not saying that's what happened, but it looks similar."
