Gruening building social media posts
Gruening building social media posts
Embedded Files
Social media posts about Gruening Building
Updated 9/25/2026, 3:25 p.m.Earlier this month, UAF became aware of a social media post from a former UAF employee stating that multiple people who have worked in the Gruening Building have been diagnosed with cancer over the course of the last two decades.
The first thing you need to know is that UAF does not have any evidence of an environmental hazard in the building. Nevertheless, we have contacted the Alaska Department of Health about the post and have shared the information we have with their team. The safety of the community is important to us, so we appreciate that people have voiced their concerns.
Here’s what will happen next:
UAF is reviewing the building history to see if there is any evidence of potential environmental exposures. So far, we have not identified any.
The state will analyze the information we gather, along with the data in the cancer registry, to determine whether there are any unusual patterns of cancer.
This process will likely take several months to complete. The Department of Health will advise us regarding whether additional steps are necessary.
We will share relevant findings as the assessment progresses and will take appropriate action if a health concern is identified.
It’s important to remember that we don’t know whether the anecdotal reports of people’s cancer diagnoses represent an anomaly or an expected number of cases given the number of people who have worked in the building since its construction in the early 1970s. Unfortunately, cancer is much more common than many people realize: Nearly 40% of people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.
That said, we felt it was important to reach out to the experts at the Department of Health with these concerns, and to share the information we have with you. We have also posted some additional information below and will update this site as needed. If you have questions or concerns that are not addressed on the website, we have created a form where people can share information or suggest new FAQs.
Thank you for your patience as we work with our colleagues at the state to look into this situation.
FAQs
FAQs
What concerns have been raised on social media?
A former UAF employee has stated that they are aware of 24 people who have worked in the Gruening Building who have been diagnosed with cancer over the course of the last two decades.
How common is cancer?
Nearly 4 out of every 10 people will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime. That means in a group of 100 people, about 40 of them would be expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, whether or not they worked in the same place. The risk of cancer increases with age, but even at younger ages, about 15% of adults will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they reach age 65.
What is a cancer cluster?
A cancer cluster occurs when more people than expected in a certain group, place or period of time develop the same type of cancer or cancers that are linked to the same cause or exposure. A cancer cluster does not necessarily mean that an environmental or occupational exposure caused the cancer. They may also result from an aging population, genetics, shared behaviors, screening or healthcare access, or by chance. Cancer clusters are not common, though the perception of them is very frequent.
Where can I find more information about cancer clusters?
You can read more about cancer clusters on the CDC’s website, “Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns,” and the American Cancer Society cancer clusters webpage.
What is UAF doing to respond to the concerns?
No specific environmental hazard or exposure has been identified. We are working with the Alaska Department of Health. The team at the Division of Public Health will review the reported cancer cases to determine whether there is evidence of an unusual pattern. We will share relevant findings as the assessment progresses and will take appropriate action if a health concern is identified.
Why is the Alaska Department of Health involved?
The Alaska Department of Health is the state agency responsible for tracking disease and health outcomes in Alaska. As part of that, they maintain Alaska’s cancer data via the Alaska Cancer Registry. When UAF became aware of the social media concerns, we shared that information with the state, as we would with any concern of this type we became aware of.
How will the state do its initial review?
The Alaska Cancer Registry tracks newly diagnosed cancers and benign brain tumors, but does not track common non-melanoma skin cancers, other benign tumors, or reoccurring cancers. They will work with UAF to gather information about the concern and define the location, population and time-period to study. The ACR team will analyze cancer registry data to look for unusual patterns and decide whether further assessment is needed.
How long will it take for the state to review the information?
There are approximately 3,500 new cases of cancer reported in Alaska every year. Carefully analyzing potential patterns is a time-intensive process, so data review will take time. We anticipate that an initial assessment could be available by the end of the calendar year or in early 2027.
Who should I contact if I am concerned or have information to share?
We have created a form where people can share information or suggest new FAQs.
How will I know if there's an alert?
How will I know if there's an alert?
This website will offer access to current information about emergencies at UAF. During an emergency or crisis, information may be provided in several ways:
Alertus emergency alert beacons
Loudspeakers
Rave Guardian app alerts
Local news radio and/or television broadcasts
Telephone text and voice messages
Verbal updates from building coordinators
For employees and students
For employees and students
Rave system alerts
Rave system alerts
Students and employees can visit UAOnline to update their information. Please make sure you enter a cell phone number in the correct field to receive text messages about emergencies and extreme weather affecting campus.
Visit the UA Alert Notification System FAQs for more information about the Rave system and alerts.
Rave Guardian personal safety app
Rave Guardian personal safety app
The Rave Guardian app allows users to turn their smart phone into a personal safety device. It provides quick access to campus safety resources, one-button 911 access, and a safety timer that allows users to designate friends or family members to virtually walk them home.
To download and install:
Visit the App Store or Google Play.
Search for Rave Guardian.
Download, launch and follow instructions.
Campus and community emergency contacts
Campus and community emergency contacts
IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL 911
Fairbanks: 907-451-5100
Emergency, 911
Non-emergency: 907-459-6500
907-474-7721
907-474-7721
Safety Seconds
Safety Seconds
Seconds count. Take a few seconds to review the Emergency Response Guide. It's information that could save your life.
In addition, the following resources offer specific safety information:
Campus closures
Campus closures
View the UAF policy on emergency campus closures.
For members of the public
For members of the public
Smart911 Alerts
Smart911 Alerts
Parents and members of the public can also receive emergency alerts from the university or the City of Fairbanks by signing up with Smart911. Residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough will also have the option to customize their borough Smart911 information.
For media inquiries
For media inquiries
Refer reporters to UAF public affairs staff or designated spokesperson for information in an emergency:
Marmian Grimes, communications director, 907-474-7902 or mlgrimes@alaska.edu.
Kristin Summerlin, public information officer, 907-474-6284 or klsummerlin01@alaska.edu
Karen Tomasik, communications coordinator, 907-474-6438 or kjtomasik@alaska.edu
UAF University Relations, uaf-news@alaska.edu.
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