Impacts of the Fox Hall Fire on Campus

In the wake of the recent fire that tore through Fox Hall, once known to many as Madill Hall, the St. Lawrence University community is grappling with the loss of a central student hub that served not just academic and support functions, but also as a safe space and home for student culture and belonging on campus. 

Fox Hall is home to key student services, including the Higher Education Opportunity Program and Student Accessibility Services. In addition, the Launders Science Library sustained significant damage from the fire, which occurred on Tuesday, April 8, around 6:45 p.m. Though the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the disruption has impacted many students and faculty who use the space.   

Bill Short, director of HEOP said, “The greatest concerns have been the loss of a social and academic space, and the culture of the community that used the space.” He also shared about the displacement of services and how HEOP staff interact with students, saying, “It’s truly incredible, though, how quickly the university responded to relocate services and reduce disruption.”  

Since the fire, HEOP and other student support services have been moved to Priest Hall, and experiential learning offices have relocated to the Center for Career Excellence. In addition, the science library’s functions have temporarily shifted to Owen D. Young Library.  

For students who regularly use Fox Hall, the impact goes beyond logistical inconvenience. For many HEOP students, it was a space of comfort, identity and community. “When finishing classes, I always stop by to say hello and talk to my friends,” said HEOP student Yassir Cruz ’28. “Fox Hall was a hangout spot for me. Walking by every day and not being able to go in doesn’t feel right.  

Cruz also emphasized that the loss of Fox has affected his ability to focus. “I always had a specific place I went to in Fox every time. Not being able to go to my spot and do work threw my schedule behind a lot.” Another HEOP student, Manic Phillip ’28, described the fire as “devastating” not just to himself, but to “other Black and Brown students who occupy that space.”  

Despite the emotional toll, most academic and career services have continued with minimal disruption. Geoffrey Falen, director of experiential learning and employer engagement, noted that while his personal office space was lost, internship and career support has remained fully operational. “I moved my appointments to Zoom and am now in the student center,” Falen said.  

Vice President for Student Life Jon Duraj highlighted the collaborative effort behind the recovery process. “Since last Tuesday, so many campus partners have been working swiftly to relocate services, support impacted students, and showcase what is best about SLU, a caring and supportive community” Duraj said.  

Kim Asch, the chief communications and marketing officer, noted that prompt evacuation and closed office doors helped minimize the fire’s reach. “Every office that was in Fox is still fully operational and reachable–just in a different location,” Asch said. “This was a real disruption, but our community’s resilience and rapid coordination allowed services to bounce back quickly.” She added that crisis communication protocols will be reviewed and refined following the incident, and emphasized that communication efforts focused on clarity, safety and care.  

As the university works toward rebuilding Fox Hall, both staff and students remain focused on preserving the spirit of the space that once brought them together. “While the physical location that served as a home for so many has been lost, it is the people and connection that created and sustained the community and culture,” Duraj said.   

For students like Cruz and Phillip, rebuilding is not just about bricks and concrete; it’s about restoring a sense of place. “The fire may have taken the physical space,” Phillip said, “but it hasn’t taken away the strong community of Fox Hall.”