While some carefree Georgetown students spent the hurricane rolling around in the mud like happy little piglets, students living outside the campus bubble were busy stumbling over furniture in the dark. The survivors of Burleith Blackout 2003, which started last Thursday night and lasted until Tuesday evening, got to watch the campus twinkle its tantalizing lights as they remained powerless.
“When I was without power I hated all people with power: small people with their small little lives who had power in their small little rooms,” said Jennifer Dill (SFS ‘04).
The University took a number of actions to assist affected students. The Office of Off Campus Student Life hand-delivered a pre-storm memo to all houses within a three-to-four-block radius of campus, providing information on how to prepare for the hurricane and informing them of campus resources that were available to those in need. The Alumni Lounge was open and staffed all weekend for students and residents for refuge.
Another message was e-mailed to students reminding them of resources, such as Yates for showers, transportation options around Burleith, recent security measures, and the latest available information on power restoration. On Tuesday, a storm flier and another e-mail reminded students that they were, indeed, without power, and made recommendations on preparing for the power to return. On Wednesday, representatives from Georgetown were invited to attend the Burleith Citizens Association board meeting to make sure their voices were heard.
Though Housing Services delegated a Village A apartment for cooking facilities and the Office of Off Campus Student Life hosted a free pizza party for about 30 students on Tuesday night, Pablo Halkyard (SFS ‘04) thought the University should have provided free cafeteria meal tickets for students without power. “I’d rather live ? la Al Bundy off toaster crumbs and Tang sandwiches than pay 10 bucks for a meal at Darnall,” he said.
Power envy was the least of the challenges faced during the blackout. From shaving in the dark to showering blindly in cold water, life in the dark was by no picnic.
In fact, it was the furthest thing from a picnic, given that most of the perishables surprised students by going ahead and perishing. “We were a little bit too optimistic [about our food], and thought that if we kept the fridge and freezer door closed it would be fine, provided the power was back on in a day or two. After three days the power was still out and we said ‘Hey! Maybe we should open the fridge!’ When we did the stench was horrendous,” said Ron Codario (MED ‘04).
Not everyone chose the power of optimism over basic common sense, and managed to rescue some of the victuals. Several Burleith houses held impromptu barbecues to consume rapidly spoiling food.
Charles VanSant, Interim Director of Off Campus Student Life, explained that Burleith lost its power because the storm toppled many trees, some downing power lines and damaging essential electrical power equipment. This forced many Georgetown students to overcome any and all pre-existing fears of candle wax, as they spent nights searching for matches and chain-burning tea lights.
Most students eagerly anticipated the end of the blackout. Some anticipated it to such an extent, in fact, that they avoided the blackout altogether by escaping to houses of relatives and friends, or hotel rooms. Codario said that one such house mate abandoned ship. “We almost didn’t let her back in. She brought beer though, so we opened the door,” he said.
While the weekend was more or less easygoing, the week brought back the necessity of studying, and though the academic deans had been informed of some of the difficulties Burleith students might be having, the return of power on Tuesday at 5 p.m. was greeted joyously by the eager scholars. Halkyard sighed with relief. “Never again do I want to have to leave my house to watch a Redskins game,” he said.
Codario reflected serenely on the smell of Citronella and his leaking windows. “I am proud that I didn’t cave in and go to a hotel or something. I’m glad that I stuck it out. Don’t ask me why. Because it doesn’t really make sense,” he said. “But hey, you’ve gotta be proud of something, right?”
