Senators were alerted mid-session of a potential gas leak in the Rhatigan Student Center during the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Wednesday evening. Members of the Senate, as well as all RSC and Chartwells staff, were forced to evacuate the building while firefighters attempted to locate the source of the leak.
Senators were deliberating over the details of the Senate Seat Reapportionment Act when Gabriel Fonseca, who helps advise SGA, told the body they needed to leave immediately.
“We need to recess. We need to evacuate the building due to a gas leak,” Fonseca said as senators left the Sante Fe room.
According to first responders, Chartwells employees noticed the smell of gas around 10:45 p.m. Firefighters were seen investigating the kitchens of Chick-fil-A and Panda Express in the RSC.
Kylee Hower, the speaker of the senate, said that “in order to ensure the essential business of the Association continued,” the remainder of the meeting was relocated to the RSC parking garage. From the garage, the Senate passed a modified version of the act.
“We, the Legislative Branch of Wichita State Student Government Association are committed to serving the students at Wichita State University, no matter the circumstance,” Hower said in an email to The Sunflower.
According to Hower, the meeting minutes from the meeting held in the parking garage are currently being complied by Tessa Fry, the clerk of the senate, and will be made available as soon as possible.
The livestream of the session from the Santa Fe room of the RSC can be viewed from the SGA YouTube.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated to include information from Speaker of the Senate Kylee Hower regarding the status of the Senate Seat Reapportionment Act.
