At the Student Government meeting on April 2, students brought up concerns to the Vice President for Administration & Finance Rick Ogorek with complaints of possible mold growth in McKay Hall. Students claimed that mold was growing in the rooms and even onto their possessions. Ogorek said that there was an issue brought to the school’s attention back in September, but it was taken care of.
“It was addressed at that time,” Ogorek said. “An outside company was brought in to do deep cleaning and the identification of the substance was that it was mildew and not mold.”
Though McKay Hall is an older residence hall, the inside of the building has been redone over recent years.
“McKay used to have window air conditioners in each unit,” Ogorek said. “All of McKay is now on a central air conditioning system with individual fan coil units so students can adjust it. McKay is in excellent shape. All the windows have been replaced, it’s just the design looks definitely 1959 Holiday Inn. As far as its functionality, it’s in great shape. There are no plans for anything else to be done to it. “
Marine biology major Alexis Vedder said that she has not seen a change in the condition of McKay, despite the clean up.
“My previous suitemates moved out because of mold growing in their room and on their things,” Vedder said. “Our rooms are always really damp and even though the school gave us a dehumidifier it doesn’t help 100 percent. They did spray over winter break but I don’t know if it helped at all.”
Criminology major Julianne Kessler has heard friends complain about the condition of Mckay before in regards to their health.
“Those rooms have had mold since I came to UT, you just don’t see it cause it’s in the air conditioning,” she said. “My friend discovered it because she was sick 24/7 and she has bad allergies to mold, so she opened her air conditioner.”
Ogorek suggests that if students have concerns about a possible problem in their dorm rooms, they should contact a member of facilities.
“If students think they are getting sick then there is some validity to the claims, whether it is related to the humidity or moisture level in the room is maybe a different story,” Ogorek said. “But I wouldn’t want to discount anything anyone wants to report. Students should know to go to their RA or facilities for that or any concerns.”
Students who still have concerns about a possible issue should go to their RAs who can make a report for them or they can always call facilities.
Mold can cause serious health problems. For accurate information about the health effects of mold, go to http://truthaboutmold.info and check out the Global Indoor Health Network at http://globalindoorhealthnetwork.com. Be sure to read GIHN’s position statement that discusses the diagnosis and treatment of illness caused by mold.