Fall classes in Waggener Hall relocated as crews remediate mold

Grace Xu, General News Reporter

July 31, 2023

UPDATE: From an email statement by UT spokesperson Brian Davis on Aug. 9, Waggener Hall’s general purpose classrooms have been cleared to reopen for classes and students who saw changes to their course schedules will be notified by the registrar’s office.

Due to the presence of mold in Waggener Hall, UT relocated classes scheduled in Waggener Hall for the fall semester. Crews will be working to remove mold on the first floor of the building.

The University did not release a public notice about the situation. Richard Cahanap, a junior who had classes scheduled to take place in Waggener Hall, said he found out about the change through a University philosophy group chat.

“I went ahead and checked my registration for the fall 2023 semester and noticed that I had all my classes originally in Waggener. However, they had all been moved to various other buildings,” Cahanap, a history and philosophy junior, said. “One was moved to RLP. Another one I believe was moved across to Garrison and then the other two were in buildings I had not been in before.”

Cahanap said he finds the lack of communication frustrating as a full-time student and employee.

“My classes have been moved officially, according to my registration, but it’s a lack of communication of that warning because I’m going to be in different parts of the campus at different times,” Cahanap said. “And I had picked classes that were fairly close together on the idea and premise that I was going to be in the same building.”

The University said that Environmental Health & Safety will proactively check other floors of the building while it treats mold on the first floor.

“The health of our campus community is our highest priority,” said Brian Davis, senior manager of issues and crisis communications at UT. “We look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional campus experience while we address this matter.”