Eyesores and mold

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Eyesores and mold

Dawgnet - Indianapolis,IN*

By Wojciechowski

Dawgnet Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

http://dawgnetnews.com/archive/080331/4879.html

Opinion SectionEver since I started at , I have either heard

of or witnessed many problems with some of the buildings on campus.

These problems, in addition to being unsightly blemishes upon the

school, can greatly affect student health.

Jordan Hall: Being one of the oldest buildings here, it is bound to

have flaws. However, something needs to be done about the 20 or so

leaks I have seen scattered throughout the main hallways and on the

stairwells. It is quite unsightly to be walking to class and see

several buckets or garbage cans lying out collecting water dripping

from the walls or ceilings.

One time I even saw one side of the stairs leading from the first to

the second floor blocked off with yellow tape with about five

garbage cans situated on the steps. Not only does this cause

congestion on the stairs, but what would people say?

Prospective students on a tour may see these leaks and think, " Wow,

for tuition this high, you would think that regularly deals

with maintenance problems. " Consistent leaks could also cause

weakened wood support along with mold and mildew growth. Aside from

leakage in the building, there are other random goings-on concerning

poor maintenance. This week in my speech class, a girl that

accidentally leaned against a drape had it fall onto her and her

neighbor's desks. Although it was only a plastic drape, the students

could have been injured had there been a bar attached to it.

In Ross Hall this week, my friend experienced a leak in his bedroom

ceiling. When the front desk was informed at 7:45 a.m., they simply

said to wait until 9 a.m. when maintenance opened. When maintenance

finally arrived, they discovered two leaks, which also affected two

of the rooms one floor above them. Maintenance fixed one leak, but

for the other, they said that it was unable to be repaired and that

the remainder of the water would have to drain out. So as of right

now, there is a bowl collecting the water in the room.

The persistent leakage poses a health hazard. The water may be

carrying bacteria from outdoors into the room and may be

contaminated with other toxins that are affecting the air in the

room. Leaks can cause mold growth, which in turn can cause allergic

reactions, sinus infections and increased susceptibility to the flu

and common cold. If the mold is toxic, it can lead to symptoms such

as fever, eye irritation, headache, shortness of breath and in rare

cases memory loss, joint pain and nosebleeds, moldunit.com.

The school needs to take more action concerning these problems.

Whether it be fixing the leaks/maintenance problems or perhaps

acting quicker on claims made by students, the administration should

make building repair a top priority in order to increase the safety

of students and staff and avoid any possible complications such as

lawsuits due to health issues.

Students should contact Residence Life or the Maintenance

Department -- (317) 940-6000 -- if they wish to make a formal

complaint or request for a repair. If you experience problems such

as a leak or mold growth in your dormitory or notice any problems

around campus, do not hesitate to contact them as soon as possible.