A widespread power outage is affecting residence and dining halls across Michigan State University's campus.

The power outage began in halls in the East, West, South, and River Trail neighborhoods at around 4:15 p.m. 

In a campus wide email sent at 7:48 p.m., the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety said they have identified the cause of the power outage and are actively working to restore power. 

The university does not yet have an estimated time and anticipates it may still be hours before power is fully restored. 

Residence and dining halls are being powered by generators; in order to conserve resources, the MSU Union will close at 8 p.m. Light towers are also being placed at campus intersections.

MSU is working with Verizon Wireless to alleviate cellular service disruptions by bringing mobile units to campus, the email read. Cellular service should improve as students move off campus.  

DPPS said students should be aware Green Light phones may not be working and, in the event of an emergency, should call or text 911. For non-emergencies, students are advised to call or text 517-355-2221.

Resident Assistants across campus were notified that students will begin losing access to enter and leave the building. RAs will be stationed at main residence hall entry points to let residents in and out using rosters. 

Communications senior Lauren Lee, who was in a group of students gathered outside Owen Hall, said her whole hallway went dark shortly after the lights began flickering. Lee went downstairs to talk with the front desk, only to find they weren’t aware of what was going on either. 

“They can’t get calls through, then come to find out it's all of campus,” Lee said. “I think there is an ambulance here in the East wing. The elevator got stuck and there was people on it.”