Thompson Rivers University is still trying to determine whether a substance that fell out of the gym’s walls Friday was in fact asbestos.

It will take until the end of the week for test results to confirm what the material was, said Christopher Seguin, vice-president of advancement at the university.

He stressed that it’s not known whether the material is asbestos.

“But we are treating it with every caution available,” he said.

A raucous TRU International Day finale appeared to have loosened the substance behind the walls. About two tablespoons of the stuff poured out of holes that had been used as anchoring points, which led to the gym’s closure on Saturday.

Seguin said university administration doesn’t believe the gymnasium environment is dangerous.

“But for the team that’s in there handling the situation, (the closure) is much more convenient,” he said.

The facility is not typically open to the broader community so staff and students are mostly impacted.

TRU recreation co-ordinator Pina Russo said intramural sports and fitness activities have been cancelled.

Russo said she wasn’t deeply concerned but the situation still gave her pause.

“When you hear the word ‘asbestos,’ you think ‘Oh my God,’” she said.