This unusual story appeared in today's editions of the Boston Globe...
 
AMHERST - A moderate earthquake could collapse the roof of the new $50
million sports and entertainment arena at the University of Massachusetts,
according to an engineering report commissioned by the state's attorney
general's office.
        Additionally, winds in excess of 55 m.p.h. could cause structural
damage to the building, according to the report.
        But another firm, hired by the University of Massachusetts Builiding
Authority, which owns the William D. Mullins Memorial Center, said the
building meets state standards of 70 m.p.h and that because the chance of
an earthquake is slim, advised that the building remain open.
...Paul Page, the University's vice chancellor for administration and finance,
said a structural review will be completed by October 21, the date of the
next event at the complex, and the university and the building authority will
take recommended steps at that time.
        Meanwhile, he said, the university believes it is safe to keep the
building open.
 
                                                        --Cate Chant
 
So, it looks like the UMass hockey team has one more thing to worry about
this coming season. I should point out that while winds in excess of 55 m.p.h.
may be rare, they are not unheard of in the Amherst area. Much of the UMass
campus is on a hill in the Connecticut River valley, and frequently winds tear
right through the area.
This is not the first time UMass has had problems with buildings...several
years ago the newly-constructed library had to be closed after bricks started
falling out of the upper stories. Supposedly the firm that designed the building
forgot to incorporate the weight of the books into the design plans, and the
building couldn't handle it. I wonder if the same gang designed the Mullins
Center. It would not surprise me.
I guess time will tell what kind of a monkey wrench this will throw into
the UMass hockey schedule...it could be a first--a hockey game cancelled
because of high winds!  (well, I hope not...hockey games should never be
cancelled :-)
 
--Sid Whitaker
  BU '95