Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Cox, Matt Fans are a new staple in Moore and Begley classrooms as the heat continues and the are conditioning unites remain broken.

Sweat. It's something every Eastern student has been dealing with since classes have resumed.

But for students in the Moore and Begley buildings, there is no refuge to be found even in the classroom.

"My chem. lab is burning up," said Archie Fay, a junior prepharmacy major who has classes in Moore.

Fay said his lab is in the morning, so he has it better than other students, but he said his chemistry professor complains of sweltering temperatures once the evening high sets in.

Jenn Rogers, a freshman plant systematics major, has only one class in Moore, but says her time spent there is already affecting her.

"It's hot enough to make me feel sick," she said.

Both Fay and Rogers say the first floor is not so bad, but describe the third floor as nearly intolerable.

Rogers said the bathrooms are also bad, and the experience is starting to unnerve her.

"It's really hard for me to stay awake in class or focus," she said.

Malcolm Frisbie, professor of biological sciences and member of the Board of Regents, echoes the problems in Moore. He said his office has been comfortable, but in the classroom the heat is hard on everyone involved.

Heat problems are also in the Begley building, as the situation is basically the same.

Custodial workers battle heat while going about their duties, claiming the experience is similar to working in a boiler room.

"(It's) unreal," said Steven Moore, a custodian who just transferred to the Begley Building.

Rich Middleton, director of Facilities Services, said his staff understand the conditions and are frustrated by the malfunctions of the systems.

"We're extremely sensitive to the discomfort and inconveniences the faculty, staff and students are experiencing," he said.

Middleton said Facilities Services has been working diligently to combat the problem since classes have been in session, but the process is not a simple one to reverse.

He said there are some technical differences between the two buildings, but the same set of factors is crippling both systems.

The main factor is sludge buildup, he said. The buildings are cooled by chilled water passed through a hydronic piping system, which includes a series of coils. Middleton said the air is forced over these coils before pushing out of the system.

Continued...

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