'Resilience and dedication': Diné College students, staff can return to campus after fire
Students and faculty will return to the campus following a traditional cleansing ceremony, Diné College Acting President Glennita Haskey announced in a Facebook post April 18.
The school's official reopening comes after authorities investigating the cause of last week's fire identified two suspects and arrested one of them, Haskey stated.
Details of the arrest could not be independently confirmed, as of April 20. The Navajo Nation Police Department has not responded to repeated calls and emails requesting comment.
Fire crews responded to the blaze at the Tsaile campus on April 14 at around 2:15 a.m., when a fire alert was triggered.
Within hours, the fire burned more than half of the campus's Student Union Building and destroyed the school store, which contained records dating back to the 1950s, financial records and new graduation gowns for the 2025 commencement ceremony.
Students and faculty participated in remote learning amid the weeklong campus closure, while authorities contended with fire-related hazards and investigated what caused the structure fire.
Access will still be limited when in-person classes resume April 21, as the impacted areas will remain restricted, according to Haskey. Temporary fencing and contracted security personnel will surround the areas.
Efforts will soon get underway to reconstruct the Student Union building, Haskey stated.
The project will unfold in phases, starting in May, and was expected to be completed by October 2026. The first phase, she explained, will include document retrieval and structural assessments.
'Rebuilding the Student Union Building is not just about replacing a structure,' Haskey stated in the announcement. 'It represents our resilience and our dedication to providing the best resources and opportunities for our students to thrive.'
As for the upcoming graduation ceremony, preparations 'remain on track,' the school stated. The May 9 event will be held indoors at the Shiprock South Campus.
Neighboring state universities contributed graduation regalia for the graduating class of students, according to Diné's update.
The school will provide additional details on the ceremony and about students' caps and gowns on its website.
To address student concerns over campus safety, the school stated it will revisit evacuation plans, enhance communication strategies and update lockdown procedures.
It was also providing counseling and support services to students and staff amid the school's recovery.
"It's essential that everyone feels supported during this time," Haskey stated.
Shawn Raymundo covers the West Valley cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria and Surprise. Reach him at sraymundo@gannett.com or follow him on X @ShawnzyTsunami.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Students can go back to campus after Diné College fire up north
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