2008 Woodie Awards
Sweltering classrooms make it difficult to learn
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
With highs in the upper '90s all week and the heat index at 105 degrees, there is not any question that it's hot in St. Louis. But what is Webster University doing to help students beat the heat?
The climate control around campus varies from good to terrible. The Visual Art Studio can be stuffy. The Pearson House's Room 1 supposedly has air conditioning, but no air can be felt coming out of the vents. The door to the room has to be left open so students can try to function in class. The Sverdrup building as a whole remains fairly cool, but a few classrooms, such as 260, can get too warm. The problem of Sverdrup's cool temperatures remains throughout the winter. Students are seen in their coats in all of the common areas as the temperature inside remains the same as outside.
But worst of all is Webster Hall. Many of the upper floor classrooms only have window air conditioning units and ancient heaters. The air conditioners work, but they do not provide cooling to entire rooms. After walking up three or four flights of stairs, students can't find relief. Currently, few water fountains in Webster Hall work. Students have to walk multiple floors to find water or pay the $1.25 to simply get a drink.
In some of the classrooms, the heaters remain on throughout the semester, and students are forced to leave the windows open. While in the winter there may be some relief to the heat, there is none for us now during the summer and fall months. Upon entering many of the bathrooms, you feel as though you could pass out. There is no air circulation.
Webster University needs to try to find better methods of serving students' needs. Climate control in classrooms is part of fulfilling them. Students cannot pay attention in class if they are sweating and sticking to their seats, or if they can't feel their fingers in the winter.
The climate control around campus varies from good to terrible. The Visual Art Studio can be stuffy. The Pearson House's Room 1 supposedly has air conditioning, but no air can be felt coming out of the vents. The door to the room has to be left open so students can try to function in class. The Sverdrup building as a whole remains fairly cool, but a few classrooms, such as 260, can get too warm. The problem of Sverdrup's cool temperatures remains throughout the winter. Students are seen in their coats in all of the common areas as the temperature inside remains the same as outside.
But worst of all is Webster Hall. Many of the upper floor classrooms only have window air conditioning units and ancient heaters. The air conditioners work, but they do not provide cooling to entire rooms. After walking up three or four flights of stairs, students can't find relief. Currently, few water fountains in Webster Hall work. Students have to walk multiple floors to find water or pay the $1.25 to simply get a drink.
In some of the classrooms, the heaters remain on throughout the semester, and students are forced to leave the windows open. While in the winter there may be some relief to the heat, there is none for us now during the summer and fall months. Upon entering many of the bathrooms, you feel as though you could pass out. There is no air circulation.
Webster University needs to try to find better methods of serving students' needs. Climate control in classrooms is part of fulfilling them. Students cannot pay attention in class if they are sweating and sticking to their seats, or if they can't feel their fingers in the winter.
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