March 1, 2001

Contact: Greg Kummer (509-963-1423/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail campusbullet@cwu.edu)

Central Washington University's Ellensburg campus escaped serious damage from Wednesday's magnitude 6.8 Puget Sound earthquake, according to CWU Chief of Police Steve Rittereiser and Director of Facilities Management Bill Vertrees.

After a preliminary assessment, they said that most campus buildings were untouched and unhurt. There were no reports of injuries to employees or damage to the campus grounds, electrical or sprinkler systems or the boiler, or structural damage.

"Our routine was obviously interrupted around 11 a.m., but noon classes were on time and we had no serious problems," Rittereiser said.

Only minor damage was found in one segment of Barge Hall where some plywood buckled and to a storage area where some bricks were displaced.