Olivia Russo
News Editor
Early in the morning on April 30, students in Founders Hall and the Mainiero Building were evacuated due to a gas leak, after the fire alarm was pulled. The fire department arrived quickly to resolve the issue.
Currently, the science lab, MA 57, where this leak initially occurred has been shut down for the remainder of the semester.
Since that time, rumors began to circulate as to the cause and dangers of the leak, including that toxic gas had spilled in a lab, and that the leak was caused by deferred maintenance of the buildings’ aging pipes.
Andrew Rice, chemistry department manager, explained the situation.
“What they had found out happened was that the nut that compresses (the pipe) just severed itself,” Rice said. “The torsion on it just finally made it snap, which is an unusual thing for a metal ring to do… So it wasn’t actively leaking at any time before, but it must have been that it was having issues because some people were sensing some smell of it before.”
In response to the April 30 incident, the facilities department is conducting an investigation into the lab to understand and prevent future such leaks.
“It doesn’t seem to be because of the age of the plumbing,” said Christine Broussard, professor of biology and chair of the natural sciences division. “But as a precautionary measure, they are replacing all of the plumbing, all the natural gas plumbing, in that lab. And they are replacing the fittings so that no special tools are required in order to shut the gas off.”
The natural gas piping leads to a “demo sink” where users may release gas for their Bunsen burners. Those sinks are not used as often as others, leading to build up in the pipes and ultimately trapping the gas.
Facilities is also investigating the surrounding rooms that have natural gas piping. Most of the replacements will be installed during the summer break, though some have already begun.
“The room that was shut down is already replacing all of the natural gas plumbing in that room,” Broussard said.
Ideally all of the renovations will be completed before the start of the fall 2025 semester, Broussard said.
“This is a very serious issue and we consider it important enough that we spend a lot of time on it,” Broussard said.
“I want to reassure our campus community that we’re on top of it and that no one was in danger.”
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@laverne.edu.
Olivia Russo is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism and a minor in criminology. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Campus Times for Spring 2026. She has previously served as the News Editor, LV Life Editor, a photographer and a staff writer for the Campus Times, as well as a staff writer and photographer for La Verne Magazine.
