SEMO's Magill Hall closed for remainder of Wednesday, 'potential gas leak' determined to be sewage backup

Southeast Missouri State University's Magill Hall remained closed for the remainder of Wednesday, March 5, after being re-evacuated because of a potential gas leak.

At around 5 p.m., SEMO announced classes would "resume as normal" on Thursday, March 6.

Despite reopening at noon, SEMO re-evacuated and closed Magill a second time because of the potential gas leak. Following the re-evacuation and subsequent investigation into the potential leak, Ameren Missouri determined the odor was because of a sewer backup rather than natural gas.

"The second time (Magill was evacuated) we were able to identify the source," said Floyd Davenport, SEMO's assistant vice president of Information Technology. "There was no gas leak, there was no safety issue, but we did have some old piping and the basement of that building that had backed up."

Magill, Rhodes and Johnson halls were evacuated and closed Wednesday morning, according to a university announcement via social media at 9:26 a.m.

The university reopened Rhodes and Johnson at approximately 10:45 a.m. after a gas leak was ruled out. At 11:55 a.m., the university announced Magill would reopen at noon, but sent a notice out at 2:07 p.m. stating it would be evacuated again.

Davenport said all three buildings are connected through air-handling units and an underground tunnel, which caused the suspicious odor to seep into Johnson and Rhodes despite the issue being concentrated in Magill.