The Chronicle

Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News
Last update: 4/2/07 at 6:09 AM EST

Eddie Hull

Media Credit: SYLVIA QU Mold was found in several rooms in Edens 2A, but students were not required to move out of the dormitory.

Mold has been discovered in several rooms in Edens Quadrangle, Residence Life and Housing Services officials confirmed Friday.

Eddie Hull, dean of residence life and executive director of housing services, sent an e-mail to Edens 2A residents Friday informing them of the presence of mold in their air ventilation system.

The mold is limited to four rooms on the fifth floor of the building, Hull said in the e-mail.

Preliminary testing done by the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office reported that it is a common mold, Hull said, adding that he does not believe it is harmful to students.

Air samples were taken inside and outside the building on Friday, Hull said.

"We will have the results of these tests on Monday and will then make a determination about what action may be needed, if any," he said in the e-mail.

The mold was first discovered March 23 in the fifth-floor room of sophomores Graham Dugoni and Brad Ramsey.

Mold was found blowing out of the air vent in the students' room and covered Ramsey's bed, which is located right under the vent, the students said.

RLHS officials responded to the students' complaint March 26, Dugoni said.

"They were very responsive," he added.

Nets have been set up to cover the air vents in the rooms infected with mold to prevent further mold from entering into the room.

Both Dugoni and Ramsey reported that they have experienced allergic reactions to the mold but noted that they were not severe.

Sophomore Jay Otto, who lives two doors down from Dugoni and Ramsey, said he is worried that the mold has been there for a period of time without being noticed.

"I assume the mold doesn't grow over night, so it's probably been there for a while," Otto said.

He added that RLHS said the appearance of the mold is due to some work they were doing on the system over Spring Break.

Residents said they were pleased with how RLHS responded to the incident, but some said there is concern over the possibility of shutting down air conditioning in the building-a measure RLHS took last August when mold was found in Edens 3A and 3B.

Ramsey said RLHS should not shut down the air conditioning system since there are only a few weeks left of school.

"It's not too bad," he said. "We can probably last until summer, I don't want them to shut down A/C."

Dugoni said he agreed, adding that RLHS should examine the system fully in the summer when all the residents have moved out.

Residents in other halls said they were unaware of the presence of mold in their building until they received Hull's e-mail Friday.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools