By Victoria Cruz
Contributer
On Jan. 31, the Associate Vice President for Capital Budgeting and Facilities Operations, Eric Lessne, announced that the doors to the breezeway between the old School of Business building and the former student center would be closed until further notice.
Chief of Police at the SCSU police department, Makiem Miller stated that “University police had to conduct a small investigation before any details can be released yet…there are no current safety concerns for the area for students, faculty or staff,” Miller said.
An official statement is expected to be released by the department soon.
Eric Lessne was able to offer further insight into the closure.
Over the past six months there have been sightings of unauthorized individuals around the area.
During this period doors to the old student center were found unlocked, and items from the building had gone missing.
The building is currently being used by the Long Wharf Theatre and other campus organizations for storage.
Two weeks ago, school officials discovered an unauthorized occupant who had gained access to the building and established an unpermitted living space within the premises.
Officials suspect the individual had been in the space for the past month.
The individual was removed following intervention by university officials. Since then, measures have been taken to secure the building including changing the locks and bolting down windows.
While the investigation is not complete, it is currently believed that the unauthorized individual gained access to the building using a window. Lessne was unable to confirm at this time whether there was more than one unauthorized occupant.
As mentioned, the building is not actively in use, but because of the university’s commitment to sustainability, they stored items that are accessed frequently.
This was a key factor in the university’s decision, as officials initially deemed the situation an active safety concern.
University officials have indicated that there are plans to repurpose the space next year, though details are still being finalized.
A proposed budget plan in place for the 2026-27 school year is currently awaiting legislative approval to renovate and repurpose the building.
“Until the building is occupied and we know there is a normal flow of occupants in the building the risk will remain. Me personally I’d like to see it stay closed”
Lessne noted that until the building returns to regular occupancy, the risk of unauthorized individuals attempting to inhabit the space will remain.
However, he emphasized that current security measures aim to mitigate these concerns.
Investigating officials are actively monitoring the situation and have assured that they will keep the campus community informed as more details emerge.
As discussions and investigations continue and securities measures remain in place.
The future of the building, and ultimately how it may be repurposed, remains uncertain at this time.
