2008 Woodie Awards
Dow explosion cause still unknown
By: David Veselenak
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
CMU officials still are trying to determine what caused an explosion last week in the Dow Science Complex that injured a faculty member and student.
"We're still waiting to schedule meetings to find out what happened," said David Ash, chemistry department chairman.
An explosion that occurred around 4:30 p.m. last Monday in Dow 341 sent a CMU student and Choon Lee, a chemistry assistant professor, to Central Michigan Community Hospital. Both were released that evening. The chemistry department did not release the student's name.
CMU Police, Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response were called to the scene.
"Both were released the same evening with a loss of hearing," said Jennifer Walton, College of Science and Technology safety coordinator.
Walton said Lee also suffered a laceration on her neck.
Lee and the student both have recovered their hearing, Walton said.
The lab, where the incident occurred, was cleaned up and opened later that evening.
Ash said the department needs to meet with the faculty member and Walton before making any determinations as to what caused the accident.
Walton declined to release more details about the explosion to prevent any assumptions before the cause is determined.
"I'd rather wait until I have more information," she said.
Because the faculty member has been on leave because of sickness unrelated to the incident, the meeting is scheduled sometime early next week.
After the meeting, Walton said a reconstruction of the incident is possible to help determine the cause of the explosion.
"We'd like to ask questions, and that leads to more questions," Walton said.
CMU Police said in a press release that foul play is not suspected in the incident.
Lee declined to comment.
news@cm-life.com
"We're still waiting to schedule meetings to find out what happened," said David Ash, chemistry department chairman.
An explosion that occurred around 4:30 p.m. last Monday in Dow 341 sent a CMU student and Choon Lee, a chemistry assistant professor, to Central Michigan Community Hospital. Both were released that evening. The chemistry department did not release the student's name.
CMU Police, Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response were called to the scene.
"Both were released the same evening with a loss of hearing," said Jennifer Walton, College of Science and Technology safety coordinator.
Walton said Lee also suffered a laceration on her neck.
Lee and the student both have recovered their hearing, Walton said.
The lab, where the incident occurred, was cleaned up and opened later that evening.
Ash said the department needs to meet with the faculty member and Walton before making any determinations as to what caused the accident.
Walton declined to release more details about the explosion to prevent any assumptions before the cause is determined.
"I'd rather wait until I have more information," she said.
Because the faculty member has been on leave because of sickness unrelated to the incident, the meeting is scheduled sometime early next week.
After the meeting, Walton said a reconstruction of the incident is possible to help determine the cause of the explosion.
"We'd like to ask questions, and that leads to more questions," Walton said.
CMU Police said in a press release that foul play is not suspected in the incident.
Lee declined to comment.
news@cm-life.com
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