Students debate cleanliness of courts
Cara Murphy
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: News
Students have recently voiced complaints over the dilapidated state of Watson Courts. However, they remain desirable due to location and townhouse style.
The Courts were built in 1972 when the college needed additional housing for the newly admitted women. The Thomas Watson Foundation contributed $250,000 to the endeavor and students were asked their opinions and preference on new housing, which were taken into account in the construction.
Students have since complained about the external and internal maintenance of the Courts.
"There are typically beer cans and garbage lying around. Last weekend, there was a broken whiskey bottle outside my door," Ziad Foty '10 said.
Other students believe that basic maintenance is a campus wide issue. Ian Potts '10 believes the trash situation is no different than between Gates and McKeen or behind Kirby Hall.
"The condition of the Watson Courts may be more a reflection of the student body than the infrastructure. Many students expect the custodians and others to clean up for them," Foty said.
Sarah Christy '10 agrees that the issues are a student-induced problem. "The outside areas have been very dirty, which is due to residents not respecting the living area and leaving their trash, food and random belongings lying around," she said.
Internally, there are structural issues such as the heating system, which many residents consider subpar. "The vents are not logistically placed, so some rooms are blasted with hot air," Daniel McDonald '10 said. Potts said that many light and power outlets are dysfunctional and there are no outlets in the bathrooms.
Some students have concerns for their own health. "Mold poisoning triggered a girl's asthma that put her in the hospital for two weeks. It was caused by mold that she couldn't access growing in the shower," Potts said. "She filed three separate work orders to get it cleared out, but Plant Ops never responded."
However, recent updates have been made to the Courts to make them more livable. The college added air conditioning, new stoves, new windows, interior painting, new kitchen counter tops and bathroom upgrades a few years ago, Vice President of Finance and Administration Mitchell Wein said.
The Courts were built in 1972 when the college needed additional housing for the newly admitted women. The Thomas Watson Foundation contributed $250,000 to the endeavor and students were asked their opinions and preference on new housing, which were taken into account in the construction.
Students have since complained about the external and internal maintenance of the Courts.
"There are typically beer cans and garbage lying around. Last weekend, there was a broken whiskey bottle outside my door," Ziad Foty '10 said.
Other students believe that basic maintenance is a campus wide issue. Ian Potts '10 believes the trash situation is no different than between Gates and McKeen or behind Kirby Hall.
"The condition of the Watson Courts may be more a reflection of the student body than the infrastructure. Many students expect the custodians and others to clean up for them," Foty said.
Sarah Christy '10 agrees that the issues are a student-induced problem. "The outside areas have been very dirty, which is due to residents not respecting the living area and leaving their trash, food and random belongings lying around," she said.
Internally, there are structural issues such as the heating system, which many residents consider subpar. "The vents are not logistically placed, so some rooms are blasted with hot air," Daniel McDonald '10 said. Potts said that many light and power outlets are dysfunctional and there are no outlets in the bathrooms.
Some students have concerns for their own health. "Mold poisoning triggered a girl's asthma that put her in the hospital for two weeks. It was caused by mold that she couldn't access growing in the shower," Potts said. "She filed three separate work orders to get it cleared out, but Plant Ops never responded."
However, recent updates have been made to the Courts to make them more livable. The college added air conditioning, new stoves, new windows, interior painting, new kitchen counter tops and bathroom upgrades a few years ago, Vice President of Finance and Administration Mitchell Wein said.