Mold moves into residence hall

ALYSSA MOORE STAFF WRITER AMM733@CABRINI EDU

Anyone who has ever lived in House two knows that it can use some improvement and now there is one more thing to add to their long list of things gone wrong: mold. It seems to be making itself at home in Cabrini’s housing complex and residents are becoming more perturbed with the overwhelming amounts of it growing around their living quarters.

Although mold is part of our natural environment, indoor mold can make people develop sicknesses. Mold in the buildings releases tiny spores to r eproduce, which contaminate the air we breathe. Even worse is that mold-related illnesses are often misdiagnosed because those suffering are not even aware that they have a mold problem.

er in their rooms to try and get out the damp moldy smell coming from the air vents.

Howard Holden, director of facilities, seemed to think that the media is fueling the mold scare right now.He believed that if the mold buildup in House two can spur illness, he assured that they conduct tests, which have indicated that the air within the buildings is “cleaner” than the air outside. Many students seem to disagree with this claim.

Yadira Toledo, a sophomore English and communication major, is a resident of House two. She indicates there is mold that grew in the air vents, along back,” she said. Harrison is concerned about the health risks involved, and she feels that it is a dangerous situation that should be catered to.

“I wish that with the rising costs of tuition the Cabrini College community would do something about these situations. I am grateful for them expanding and creating new buildings, but take care of the old ones first.”

With flu season on the rise and vaccinations being handed out, many students think mold illness is one thing they should not have to worry about. According to the Mold Patrol Testing Unit, less serious mold related symptoms could cause allergic reactions, trigger asthma attacks, increase susceptibility to colds and flu and create sinus infections. More serious cases can cause a person to develop a skin rash and flu like symptoms can occur such as nasal stuffiness, fever, headaches, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can also induce serious respiratory problems along with creating eye irritation. Wheezing or shortness of breath is also another symptom.

Mary Jo Rose, the associate nurse, proposed the idea that students should place a de-humidifi- within the crevices of the shower curtain and on the shower nozzle, not to mention even on the floor outside of the laundry facility.

“Its like we can’t escape it. I dread getting in the showers, luckily I only live about half an hour away so when I get the opportunity I shower at home,” said Sloan Harrison, a sophomore psychology major.

Harrison explained how outside of the laundry room there was a leak that somehow caused the water to rise allowing it to rest outside the door creating a huge white patch of wet mold on the floor.

Harrison also explained how the mold is spread throughout her vent in her dorm. “My roommate and I tried to wipe it off in the beginning but it didn’t help. It didn’t really come off and what we did get just grew

Holden did explain how the residence halls are tested periodically for air quality, and every time they have come back with good reports.“We are well below any health threat thresholds.All ductwork is cleaned within ASHRAE guidelines (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Engineers). For example, all ducts in the houses were cleaned the summer of 2004, and New Residence Hall & Xavier were cleaned last summer. Lastly, we change all air system filters twice a year,” Holden said. Whether these facts are true or false, one fact still remains that the residents of House two believe there is a mold problem and they are upset by it, and feel something has to be done.

Harrison believes students like herself do not pay outlandish tuition prices to live in mold-infested quarters. “I wish that with the rising costs of tuition the Cabrini College community would do something about these situations. I am grateful for them expanding and creating new buildings, but take care of the old ones first,” Harrison stated.

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