Mary Jeffries
Senior News Writer
Over the summer several College of Wooster buildings underwent renovations and suffered from issues caused by water damage.
According to Associate Dean of Students Christie Bing-Kracker, Kate House is slated for renovation later this year and has been declared uninhabitable until the repairs are made. Once renovated, the house is intended to be used as a new public space on campus, according to Dean of Students Kurt Holmes.
After the Shack closed and was purchased by the College last year and subsequently deemed unsafe for use as a College building and demolished, efforts were redirected toward Kate House to establish a venue on the north side of campus for entertainment, lectures or student organizations.
“For several years I have been building a renovations fund for this project,” said Dean Holmes on Monday. “We will be working with students to generate ideas and designs.”
Andrews Hall also underwent floor repair work that halted when asbestos was found in the old glue adhesive. “[O]ften in old buildings you run into asbestos,” said Holmes. “The College actually carries a fund for ‘remediating’ such finds, but often the EPA-approved means to respond is to simply leave the material undisturbed. Floor tile is the biggest thing in a residence hall situation and that can easily remain for years until carpet or new tile [is installed].”
Amber Zifzal, director of Residence Life, said that despite some of the problems experienced on campus this summer, the College has made significant additions and repairs to buildings.
Renovations of the Holden Annex as well as the work which Facilities has done to refit steam pipes across campus are expected to enhance student life.
Water damages were a recurring problem at the College this summer. Gault and Andrews Libraries experienced damage when a pipe burst in late July, and within three weeks a pressure tank in the Kauke Hall second floor utility room also failed. “Thankfully both of these events were ‘domestic water,’ or…fresh clean water,” said Dean Holmes.
However, “[t]he next week Galpin Hall experienced a backup along the grey water [sewer] between the building and the City connection,” said Holmes.
Gault and Andrews Libraries also suffered a lightning strike and flood during a rainstorm earlier this month that disabled the Simplex fire panel in control of the buildings’ alarm system, according to John Hopkins, associate vice president of College Relations and Marketing.
When the alarm system in Andrews went down on Thursday, Aug. 21, the College took measures to ensure students’ security by appointing a twenty-four hour fire watch until the new system could be installed and shortened the hours both libraries were open over the weekend due to limited staff.
Four Case Western Reserve students die in plane crash
Four students from Case Western Reserve University were killed Monday night when their single engine Cessna Model 172-R crashed in the town of Willoughby Hills following a 10 p.m. departure from Cuyahoga County Airport. The plane caught fire shortly after impact with all four students trapped inside. While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, officials think that the plane experienced engine trouble just after takeoff. According to investigators, the pilot had experienced difficulty ascending and was attempting to turn around at the time of the crash. The students had rented the plane for a four-hour period, but no flight plan was located as of press time.
Source: NBC
Obama recommits to fixing Veterans Affairs backlog
Following a new report detailing poor medical service at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), President Obama recommitted himself to increasing accountability and improving mental healthcare for U.S. military veterans. In a speech at the American Legion’s 96th annual convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Obama assured veterans that his administration is “focused on this [issue] at the highest levels.” According to a report released Tuesday by the VA Office of Inspector General, up to 93 facilities are currently under investigation for altering data to conceal long wait times.
Source: Bloomberg
Israel and Hamas declare cease fire
On Tuesday an open-ended ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas, bringing an end to the seven-week conflict in Gaza that has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people. The ceasefire, which began 12 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. local time), was announced on Egyptian state television. An Israeli official reported that there would be an easing of the blockade currently surrounding Gaza. Additionally, the deal will allow relief aid and construction materials to enter the strip, as well as allowing Palestinian fishermen to venture up to six miles off shore. The same Israeli official said talks on more substantive issues were expected to begin in Cairo within a month.
Source: The New York Times