The Observer, February 22, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 18
Letters to the Editor: A.W. Smith badly in need of renovation
To the Editor:
The neglectful deterioration of some of our more "vintage" academic buildings is shameful. I am specifically speaking of A.W. Smith, the home of the chemical engineering and geology departments. As a chemical engineering graduate student, my fellow students and I are subjected to cockroaches (dead and alive), mice, mice feces, leaking roofs, windows that are nearly falling out of the frame, peeling (hopefully non-leaded) paint, non-functioning water fountains, jury-rigged computer networks, and faulty heating and cooling systems. One of the leaks emanates directly above my office desk from a 15-foot-long ceiling crack, where water from melting snow falls directly onto my computer, threatening my hard-earned data. What is more shocking is that repeated calls to facilities management result in no action. The operator actually had the nerve to tell me that my roof couldn't be leaking because it was not raining at the time of the call. I informed her that melting snow could do the trick, as my desk became a swimming pool before my eyes. I've hosted former chemical engineering students who graduated 15 years ago, and they described the current state of this building as "sad."
Recently our department website "highlighted" the fact that the last major building renovation was held in 1978. While it is understood that the school is in a financial crunch, the quality and the continuous modernization of our facilities is key to recruiting students. As someone who was responsible for freshman recruiting at my undergraduate institution for four years, I can't stress how much of an impression the state of a building leaves on visitors and prospective students. Increased enrollment is vital for the financial viability of Case, and insect corpses strewn about the hall don't lead to a good impression. Some areas of A.W. Smith have been renovated, like the basement and main lobby where the bulk of the faculty sits. It's rare that their air conditioning doesn't work. However, the same can't be said for most of the building. It should be noted that labs draped in neon light for a school brochure photo-op do not constitute top-notch facilities either. Maintenance and, in this case, modernization of our buildings is required for proper student environments and excellent recruiting. For years, the ball has been dropped regarding A.W. Smith; I just hope the problem isn't systemic. I don't want to be embarrassed to show off my school.
Jason Mazzoccoli
Graduate student
