During my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to live in Randolph Dormitory, one of the few air-conditioned residences on East Campus. Although this meant I had to live in a tiny, 148-square-foot room (basically the same size as Saddam Hussein's prison cell, but with a roommate), at least I had cool air pumping through the vents and a thermostat that I could adjust.
Most freshmen are not so fortunate. Built before World War II, many dormitories on East Campus do not have air conditioning. This makes life rather uncomfortable for the unlucky kids assigned to the sweltering buildings.
After a trip to West Campus, the gym or Ninth Street, it must be tough returning to a residence that could in fact be hotter than it is outside.
To make matters worse, unless they provide a note from a doctor, students cannot install individual air-conditioning units in their rooms. This is the reason why, after learning of the policy over the summer or barely surviving the 100-degree rays that roast their dorm on a regular basis, some students miraculously "develop" allergies. With the scribble of a doctor friend, one can easily avoid the hassle of living in a dorm without air conditioning.
But the problem isn't limited to dorms. It even crops up in the classroom.
Lucky me, I had three of my classes in two buildings with broken air conditioning last week. By the middle of each lecture, I felt like was being baked alive. The air was misty and hot, and I found it hard to breathe. My once-cool bottle of water provided no help, and with only a small breakfast that morning, a feeling of nausea crept into my stomach. The heat distracted me and every other student from what was going on in the classes, and it probably bothered the professors, too.
The only one of my classrooms below 80 degrees early last week was in the Divinity School. The comfortable environment definitely enhanced the lecture, and that is really what Duke should strive for: the best possible environment for both living and learning.
If the University wants to make students happier, it needs to solve its air conditioning problems. It is preposterous that a school with a multi-billion dollar endowment forces its students to endure the summer heat indoors.
In addition to installing air conditioning on East, Duke needs to prevent AC failure in the middle of August-and if it does happen, fix it immediately.
Students worked very hard to get here, and someone is spending a lot of money for them to stay here. They should be treated accordingly.
Here's a thought: Instead of spending $10 million on something like the new plaza--or as I like to call it, a wider walkway with entertainers, t-shirt vendors, hot dogs and pizza--why not use a little money to fix simple things like air conditioning? Maybe Duke could have taken some of the money spent on the mist fountain, which does not really work or refresh anyone and will quickly lose its appeal, and use it to cool students off where they really need it.
Installing air conditioning in every building on campus--and keeping it working--is a realistic goal, and Duke should take it seriously. But if the University does find it unnecessary, then it should at least allow students to place air conditioning units in their windows without a note from a doctor.
Jamie Deal is a Trinity sophomore. His column runs every other Thursday.
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