Current Issues in Journalism

Fix the water damaged ceilings in Anschutz Library.

There is a vast amount of water damage on the ceiling of Anschutz Library, along the back wall. It is easily visible to anyone who takes the time to look up and notice it, and in many places the ceiling is completely falling apart. Even worse, is the fact that the water damage is causing mold to grow there and is very visible to the naked eye.

High exposure to mold like that in the library can be very hazardous to the health of the students. And anyone who spends time studying, or surfing the internet, in the library is potentially at risk to suffer from the effects of the mold. And we all know how many students pack themselves into that library at least two times a year for finals.

Mike Russell, Director of Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), said that it is the responsibility of the building’s occupants to report problems such as these, and that no one from the library’s facility has done so. The fact that no one has contacted his department from Anschutz means that the problem garnishes no attention.

In the event that they did contact him, Russell says that the problem would be handled by his department along with the department of facility operation (FO). “We would conduct an initial assessment and provide recommendations to responsible building manager and FO as to what needs to happen. In this case, stop the water leak, remove water damaged materials, clean and remove the visible mold. FO would then initiate the action plan for remedying and fixing the problem,” Russell states.

And while he is aware that mold could potentially cause, “Indoor Air Quality concerns and human health concerns.” Russell states that only some mold species, in excessive growth can cause problems. However this is not the case, “All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants,” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).