Ever since I started at Butler, 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 Butler 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.


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