EDITORIAL: Improve campus infrastructure
Prioritize safety
Editorial | 3/16/10
Posted online at 2:11 AM EST on 3/16/10
The University's failure to sufficiently maintain campus buildings became abundantly evident during this past week's rains, as many on campus found themselves working and living in hazardous conditions. Brandeis has borrowed money to renovate the Charles River Apartments; it should similarly prioritize ensuring that buildings meet basic upkeep standards for the safety of the community.
Last month, a portion of the ceiling in the Schwartz Residence Hall section of the Usen Castle collapsed directly over Kiernan Bagge's '12 bed. Fortunately, Mr. Bagge was not in his room at the time; had he been there, he could have been seriously injured. This was not the first time neglected structures have nearly caused harm. For example, late last semester a tile fell from a leaky ceiling in Gerstenzang 122 during a class, just missing a student seated nearby.
We recognize that Gov. Deval Patrick declared Massachusetts in a state of emergency due to the unusual weather, but the recent storm only exposed and exacerbated preexisting problems; it did not create them. Over the past few days students have reported water leaking into their rooms in East Quad and the Village. There were leaky ceiling tiles in the Usdan Café, and the Farber Green Room was closed yesterday due to leaks. There was flooding in North Quad, the Foster Mods and Shapiro Residence Hall, and part of Shapiro's ceiling collapsed. The Castle has extensive flooding, with water entering stairways, the laundry room, the Commons and bedrooms.
Brandeis already faces a shortage of student living space, so it is necessary to keep rooms in working order so that the Department of Community Living does not have to scrounge for empty rooms for students displaced due to the effects of poor upkeep.
Chair of the Board of Trustees' Budget and Finance Committee Meyer Koplow '72 told the Justice in January that the University has an annual budget shortfall of about $25 million, which comprises expenditures and deferred costs like building maintenance, a cost that must not be ignored when community safety is at stake.
It is understandable that in its current financial state Brandeis must be cautious in its spending, but safety is not an acceptable area for cutbacks. These problems must be addressed before they worsen and dangerous conditions render even more rooms unusable. It is in the University's best interests to fix problems now to avoid more costly repairs in the future.
Last month, a portion of the ceiling in the Schwartz Residence Hall section of the Usen Castle collapsed directly over Kiernan Bagge's '12 bed. Fortunately, Mr. Bagge was not in his room at the time; had he been there, he could have been seriously injured. This was not the first time neglected structures have nearly caused harm. For example, late last semester a tile fell from a leaky ceiling in Gerstenzang 122 during a class, just missing a student seated nearby.
We recognize that Gov. Deval Patrick declared Massachusetts in a state of emergency due to the unusual weather, but the recent storm only exposed and exacerbated preexisting problems; it did not create them. Over the past few days students have reported water leaking into their rooms in East Quad and the Village. There were leaky ceiling tiles in the Usdan Café, and the Farber Green Room was closed yesterday due to leaks. There was flooding in North Quad, the Foster Mods and Shapiro Residence Hall, and part of Shapiro's ceiling collapsed. The Castle has extensive flooding, with water entering stairways, the laundry room, the Commons and bedrooms.
Brandeis already faces a shortage of student living space, so it is necessary to keep rooms in working order so that the Department of Community Living does not have to scrounge for empty rooms for students displaced due to the effects of poor upkeep.
Chair of the Board of Trustees' Budget and Finance Committee Meyer Koplow '72 told the Justice in January that the University has an annual budget shortfall of about $25 million, which comprises expenditures and deferred costs like building maintenance, a cost that must not be ignored when community safety is at stake.
It is understandable that in its current financial state Brandeis must be cautious in its spending, but safety is not an acceptable area for cutbacks. These problems must be addressed before they worsen and dangerous conditions render even more rooms unusable. It is in the University's best interests to fix problems now to avoid more costly repairs in the future.
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