On Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, the Usdan Student Center and the Farber-Goldfarb Libraries were shut down. The pathway between them leading to the Rabb steps was also closed. 

“Facilities staff ... identified a significant underground water leak between the Usdan Student Center and the Library near Dunkin,” wrote Matthew Rushton, the University’s Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Campus Operation, in an email sent out to the Brandeis community. 

The shutdown involved five of the food providers on Brandeis campus: The Hive, the Usdan Kitchen, the Farber Library’s Starbucks, Dunkin’ and the Hoot Market. 

To compensate for this closure, the schedules for some of the other food options on campus were reorganized. The Stein was opened from 11 a.m to 2:30 p.m., featuring the Global and Pasta Bake menu from the Sherman Dining Hall. Friday morning, some of Usdan’s food operations — The Hive, Dunkin’ and the Usdan Kitchen — remained closed but had reopened by lunchtime. 

Mail delivery services were delayed all Thursday and were reopened on Friday. An Americans with Disabilities Act accessible detour was available to all students through the Usdan Courtyard for community members who needed access to nearby buildings.

At press time, Rushton did not respond to The Justice for a comment.