JQA residents evacuated for 4am fire alarm
As if a Saturday night in Southwest didn’t suck enough
On October 4 at approximately 3:45 AM, students of Southwest awoke to a frantic alarm. Many asked the slumber gods, “Why now? Why me? Why JQA?”
The alarm forced everyone out of their rooms and down up to 22 flights of stairs. Murmurs erupted over the source of said alarm. Was this a drill? Is this for real? Was this a nightmare?
Ranging from those in their previous night’s attires , personal comforters for that extra warmth, and some wearing no more than a tank top and shorts, the fashion for the occasion was diverse. “No-bra chic” was the trend of the night.
Police, cadets and RAs alike sent the frigid bodies into the lobby of Washington tower, while its residents unknowingly continued their peaceful nights in bed.
In Washington, when asked about her evening sophomore Nadine Juweid wailed, “This isn’t cute.”
Around 4:15 AM, rumor struck in Washington that residents would once and for all be released back to their dorms.
Though with further investigation, it was quickly discovered that this was a load of shit. Rather, there was “three feet of water found in the basement,” that needed to be handled.
At 4:30 AM, all were given the “option” to enter Berk. Translation: “Sorry kids, you’re gonna be out here all effing night.”
‘I’m over this’ – JQA canine
As the minutes dragged on and on, patience was surely being lost along with sanity. The mood shifted in the crowded lobby of Berk DC as phones displayed 5:00 AM and residents were still not in the comforts of their beds.
Sonali Khanna, sophomore, sporting shower flip flops, remarked, “This is the worst night of my life.”
The evening from hell continued with the news, “Nothing has changed. You may try and find friends in other buildings. This may take a while.”
Throughout the tumultuous abrupt morning, officials remained to relay any information they withheld and continued to be a source of light in the dreary experience. All residents were very appreciative of the UMass police and fire department for keeping them safe.
Two hours to the dot, at 5:45 AM, the crowd stood in unison and hundreds of students began our journeys back to their dorm.
While we would love to say this night caused a giant group bonding sesh where residents all held hands and realized they weren’t so different from one another, but that just wasn’t the case. Instead for hours, tortured students sat in almost complete silence trying to find a comfortable position to curl up in on the floors of Berk.