Drew University’s residence halls have a plethora of issues, as I think many will agree. As the colder seasons approach, Drew has now turned on the heat, and it is creating massive problems.
Of course, having heat in this weather is a necessity and is appreciated; however, the amount of heat that is being blown into the rooms is atrocious. For example, there is no control over the temperature of my room in Riker, and only one of the vents can close.
Even with a window open to let the wind through and two fans blowing directly over the bed, it is still incredibly hot in my room. Even rooms that supposedly have control over their temperature, such as rooms in Baldwin or McClendon, are stuck in overly hot conditions.
In these buildings, the temperature can either only be adjusted by a few degrees, or the system does not work at all. Asking facilities to fix the heat also proves unfruitful. The staff themselves are not necessarily at fault; the system itself just does not do what it is supposed to.
It goes without saying that Hoyt is one of the main victims of this blistering issue. Even the first floor is sweltering, let alone the fourth.
The stuffiness and mustiness that engulf these rooms leave students vulnerable to disease, no matter the season. This is especially problematic for immunocompromised students.
Having students live in these conditions is dangerous and leads to more issues all around. According to the World Health Organization, “Rapid rises in heat gain due to exposure to hotter than average conditions compromises the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can result in a cascade of illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia” (WHO 2018).
As students, we cannot escape these conditions because we are constantly surrounded by them. We cannot escape the problem by staying in our room since that’s exactly where the problem is.
It is crucial that these concerns get resolved. Drew University needs to realize that these concerns run the risk of putting students in danger. The threat, no matter how big or small, affects the school’s reputation and acceptance rate. The more people complain about Drew and expose its issues, the less prospective students will want to attend Drew. That no longer just affects us, but Drew as well. It is crucial to keep that in mind.
Nina Grace is a sophomore majoring in art history and minoring in museum studies and cultural management.
