Students residing in the Usen Castle experienced ceiling leaks due to clogged and frozen roof drains as a result of the extreme weather conditions last week, according to Associate Vice President for Facilities and Services Peter Shields."It was a phenomenon based on the weather we've had over the past couple of weeks," Shields explained in an interview with the Justice. "We had some frozen roof drains and then rain on top of everything else, which had water puddling on the roof areas, and unfortunately the water from the puddles on the roof had migrated into the building."

According to Shields, a leak in the roof of the Castle Commons resulted in flooding that affected the rooms below it.

Senior Director of Community Living Jeremy Leiferman said in an interview with the Justice that in the past year there have been "a few isolated leaking areas" in the Castle, but that to his knowledge, "this is the first time that [leaking has] affected [student dorms] versus a common space."

Michelle Sinnreich '13 and Nusrath Yusuf '13, both residents of the Castle who experienced room damage last weekend due to the ceiling leaks, said in a joint interview with the Justice that the Department of Community Living offered them the opportunity to move into alternate rooms multiple times.

"That was one of their priorities-to make us comfortable," Sinnreich said.

However, both Sinnreich and Yusuf decided to stay in their rooms.

"We like the castle and we like our rooms," Yusuf explained.

According to Leiferman, "[The Department of Community Living] take[s] it on a case-by-case scenario whether or not the student would need to be moved depending on the severity of the situation."

Sinnreich said that the leak in her room began last Monday, Jan. 31, and slowly progressed over the week as the severe weather conditions worsened.

"I spoke to people [from the Department of Community Living] on Thursday and Friday, but it was still just in one isolated corner," Sinnreich said.

When Sinnreich and Yusuf returned to their rooms on Saturday night after going out to watch a movie, the leaking had increased, they explained.

"When I came home, it was raining in my room. We put on raincoats and started moving as much stuff as possible," said Sinnreich.

Yusuf explained that her pillow, blanket and rug were all water-damaged and her roommate's notes and artwork experienced water-damage as well.

According to Sinnreich and Yusuf, they are being reimbursed for the damages to their possessions.

Repairs being made to the rooms should be finished by today, according to Shields.

"We had the roofers in there all morning as soon as they were able to get in there," Shields explained. "At this point we're pretty confident that the water infiltration has been stopped.