Student Center Fire
April 18, 2001
A small fire Wednesday night left about 75 Huskie Den dwellers out in the cold and one juvenile in custody for allegedly starting the fire.
Lt. David O’Donnell, of the DeKalb Fire Department, said the fire began when a lighter ignited paper towel dispensers in the women’s restroom of the Huskie Den. Police officers and firefighters spent an hour investigating the fire before allowing anyone back to their games of pool and bowling.
There were no injuries, and the University Police still were investigating the matter late Wednesday night.
Brandon Barker, a junior a mechanical engineering major, was in the Huskie Den when the fire started at 9:40 p.m. He said soon after, a big pillar of smoke emanated from the restroom.
“People saw smoke,” he said. “Some people ran, and others just stood around.”
The fire interrupted a 9 p.m. bowling league, leaving many patrons holding bowling shoes while shivering in their socks.
“At first we were just casual,” said Joe Karlovsky, a sophomore math education major. “We were just like, ‘Whatever, we’ll just bowl.'”