Thursday, January 20, 1994 Leaks in the Suites... by Bridgette Jesek Cotblies Site Warm leakage has returned the Tigress, Porcupine and Tiffany suites causing many students to be dismppoxl and removed from thier rooms. Problems have been occurring for the past threes years now. The question was asked, "Why hasn't the problem been remedied during this length of time?" James Bowen, director of Housing and Foods Scrvices; was around to clear up some of the controversy surrounding the faults of the suites. "No one has solved the problem of how the water is getting into the suites. All they have done is told us how to try to stop it." M.P.B. Architects, designers of the suites, worked with the Housing and Foods Department for the past two years trying to reverse the wager damage. First, they suggested that there were not enough roof vents. In response to this suggestion many new roof vents where installed costing quite a bit of money. How much you ask? Only a mere ten thousand dollars on top of the original cost of the construction of the suites. The next year the Housing Department found themselves facing the same problem. Danette Parrett, an RA in the suites reported, "Water covered the floors of many rooms and those people had to wear shoes at all times because of the floor being drenched." ...and elsewhere by Glee Jesteadt Colkgian Staff "Not only is it cold and snowing outside," said Jennifer Detzel, "but you get snowed on inside." This is the general consensus of most Behrend students because of extremely cold weather. There has been incidents reported by many students and faculty concerning leaks in classrooms and several buildings on campus. John Ream, director of operations, gave a progress update of the work being done on the destruction. There are a few leaks in the Behrend Science Building. "We had Rush in room 121," said Lisa Parker. "When we were walking towards our room we got Covered with snow." The leaks such as: this seemed to be caused by the vent shafts used for air to be exhausted opt of the building. Unfortunately, a project has not yet been fancied ta step this kind of problem. The snow is blowing down the air vents Living underwater yet again: Architect Herman Weber, from the firm of Murphy Fox, has been consulted to help resolve the problem of leakage in the suites. affected by the water has had their housing bill discounted by 20%," Bowen assured. Many other special preparations have been made for the inconvenienced students. For instance, in one room that was three quarters of the way saturated, the occupants were moved into an empty apartment at no additional charge, and wet vacs have been made accessible to the RAs for those students who Instead of roof vents, next the architects proposed the idea of a ridge vent, which is an insulation that balances the hot and cold temperatures. Taking the recommendation again ridge vents were installed. "At the beginning of the '93- '94 semester break I checked the rooms that had been affected to see if what they had done the summer before had corrected the problem," Bowen said. "On Tuesday, December 21 I because they are too low. The Menaill Farmhouse has also reportedly been found to have minor leaks. "The main problem of the leaks is attributed to the heavy snowfall," commented Ream. Earlier in the season snow would lay on the roof and gradually melt and run down the roof of the farmhouse. Now that it is freezing again and it is remaining cold, an ice dam has formed keeping the water from leaving the roof. This is then causing the excess water to seep underneath the shingles and cause leaks in the house. "There is a person coming out to look at the problem soon," said Ream. The Studio Theater is the only continuing problem that has been given funds for repair. "The entrance to the Studio Theater has become a temporary problem to the students because of a combination of a leak in the roof and the cold weather," said Lori Dyer. The first design meeting is tommorrow. The committee will discovered leaks in three rooms in all suites. "Just before the students returned Bowen alerted the inspection office and proceeded to take pictures of the moms. From what they could tell the leaking was coining from the comers. Students have been asked on occasion to permit some investigation to pinpoint where the water has been coming in from. "Everyone who has been deside on the professional to be hired and then the work will be done. Like the farmhouse, Erie Hall is having the problem of an ice dam build-up as well. This is causing leaks in the lobby roof that then seems to be running down the steps making it difficult to walk. This problem has been scheduled to be looked at. Four different committees met to discuss the problems in the new Academic Building. The Behrend committee, the professionals and the engineers of the building, and the Department of General Services met to look at the leaks with the actual contractor on January 13. There seem to be various leaks in the library. They are now trying to figure out what the causes are. Other problems that were found in the Academic Building by students include such things as other leaks, stuck doors, and possibly dangerous atmospheres. It has also been reported that some professors are getting dripped on while teaching their classes. by Holly Berry /Collegian Phob Cooniinator MINN By Paul M. Marini Collegian Staff Monday, Jan. 17 was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a Federal holiday. The day began a week-long series of events commemorating the life of the civil rights activist. Behrend has had such a celebration for the past seven years, yet, according to Residence Life and Human Relations Coordinator Jacquett Wade, this isn't just a tradition. "I would like for our observance of Dr. King's life to be viewed as something more than simply a tradition," Wade said. "This oluumnce has a special and AO*" waning because we arc _ . omdies people of his contribtions Und 'the need to fight for equality." Wade fells that Martin Luther King Day, 'which occurs on the third Monday In Amway, is "...an armual4biesmuri Of the life of a man who had a tremendous impact on our society." She also said - dutt a day of are in need of them In an another attempt to stop the water from reaching the inside of the suites, a new architect, Herman Weber, was called on to the situation. Herman Weber is with the local architectural film of Murphy Fox. He has recently reviewed the plans of the suites and in a meeting on Thursday, December 13 made some recommendations for stopping the problem. He suggested using a new type of electrical tape to put in the gutters so the water doesn't freeze causing a back-up. He also made one other suggestion for ceasing the problem. He pointed out that if a rubber membrane was used on the areas of the roof that were leaking this would act as a bather from the ice. At the present time the head of Murphy Fox is composing a letter to propose to University Park with specific recommendations of what is needed. There is no date to start work on the project at this time. When time does come to start work it will not disrupt the =darns. Bowen eluded to the fact that they were planning to use the vacant room to find exactly where the water is coming in from while work is being done to stop the problem. If in fact the situation gets worse, there are vacancies for students to be moved to. Bowen added, "The students will be taken care of." Day observance is not the best way to keep Dr. King's dream alive. "We can best keep his dream alive by becoming more involved in ow communities," Wade said. "We need to become activists on behalf of his values and his memory ad his dream." The week-long series of events began,on Monday at 7:30 a.m. with a family breakfast at Dobbins Hall. It continued that day at 4 p.m. with a student presentation entitled "Keeping the Dream Alive" in FAC Hall, and at 6:45 p.m. there was a candlelight vigil on the staircase between Reed rend Perry Hall. Then, at 8 p.m. in the Reed Lecture Hall, Darryl Van Leer presented two of Dr. King's speeches, which were followed by the Greater Calvary Baptist Church Choir at 9 p.m. On Tuesday, Jan. 18 there was a student poetry reading in Reed Wintagarden from 12:15-1 p.m. Tonight at T p.m., Rev. Stanley Smith and the Shiloh Young Adult Choir will perform in Reed Arintagtmka Page 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers