SUNY Canton Cancels Next Week's Classes (Feb. 13 -17)

CANTON, NY (02/10/2012)(readMedia)-- Due to a fire in Cook Hall and potential smoke damage to adjacent buildings on the SUNY Canton campus, the College is sending students home and cancelling classes for the week of February 13-17. Classes are set to resume on Monday, Feb. 20.

Residential students are being instructed to return to campus on Sunday, Feb. 19. Only students with obligations outside the classroom, such as athletes with game and practice obligations, will be allowed to remain on campus next week. The men's ice hockey game versus Syracuse University scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, Feb. 10) at Roos House will be played as scheduled. Chaney Dining Hall is serving dinner this evening on campus.

The affected buildings remain closed, but the rest of the campus is now accessible.

"We consider ourselves very fortunate that no one was hurt," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. "It was a tremendous response from our local firefighters, rescue squads and police agencies, including our own University Police here on campus. This situation could have been worse, but these agencies and individuals were exceptional in containing the fire and minimizing the damage."

Cook Hall is the only building damaged by the fire. The extent of damage has not yet been assessed. The fire broke out shortly before noon on Friday, Feb. 10. Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the fire and whether adjacent buildings sustained any smoke damage. Officials are limiting access to several buildings on campus until they are clean and acceptable for use.

"We'll attempt to resume normalcy as soon as we are certain that it is safe to do so," said Kennedy. "We've had a conference call with the SUNY Chancellor's Office and they have been exceptional in their guidance and assistance. We will undoubtedly have to make up some classes later in the semester and maximize alternative classroom space, but ultimately we're hoping this will be minimally disruptive in the long run."

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to continue to monitor their emails and check the College's website for further information.