With the recent ice storms, temperatures below freezing, and more severe weather predicted, it makes navigating our daily routine difficult. If you are coping with a power outage, your difficulty is magnified, and many aspects of normalcy are adversely impacted.

If you are a current EKU employee or student experiencing a power outage, EKU will be opening our Recreation Center and dining hall doors to provide some temporary relief. A hot shower, a cup of coffee, and a warm meal can go far in giving some relief to extreme weather conditions out of our control. We offer our facilities to the Colonel family members as a gesture of comfort, compassion, and appreciation for your contribution to EKU.

The Student Recreation Center is now open to current EKU employees, current EKU students, and their immediate family members living in the same household who are presently experiencing a power outage. You can view Recreation Center operating hours here. This opportunity will be available during operating hours through Sunday, February 21, 2021.

Wi-Fi access is available on campus. Locker rooms at the Recreation Center are also open for those who want a hot shower. Families can have exclusive use of the family locker rooms for showers or use gender-specific locker rooms. Families will need to bring their shower supplies. Everyone is required to wear a mask and stay within their family unit while inside the facility. Families will have access to some of the activity spaces and recreation equipment as well. Families/visitors may stay as long as the facility is operating at a safe capacity. All minors must be always accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Families experiencing a power outage can have one hot meal per person provided by our partners at EKU Dining Services. Everyone must always wear facial coverings/masks, maintain social distancing standards, and observe proper hygiene and sanitation. If you are ill or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home or seek medical attention if needed.

During severe weather, we recognize travel may be dangerous. We do not advocate that any EKU personnel or students take unnecessary risks. Travel at your own risk, use your best judgment, and please be safe if navigating our campus roadways and walkways. Please keep in mind that a coating of ice still exists on campus trees, and crews are actively working to clear snow and ice from walkways and roadways throughout the weekend.

If you choose to visit the Recreation Center, please bring your EKU ID or have your student /employee number available. Each visitor will be responsible for identifying immediate family members. I hope this small gesture can be helpful to those members of our family who are in need. We often speak about the Colonel family, and I am happy to add meaning to that statement by extending a helping hand when it is genuinely needed.

Thank you for all you do.
 
 
One Eastern,
 
Dr. David T. McFaddin
 
President
 
Eastern Kentucky University