Students living in Saratoga Terrace (pictured above) submitted complaints regarding mold sightings in their townhouses. The college has responded to try to find a solution, but students have criticized the lack of timeliness of its reaction (Elijah Reed/staff photographer).
Saratoga Terrace townhouse residents filed reports of mold growth as a result of excess moisture. Facilities staff have enacted a multi-faceted solution to attempt to rectify the issue.
Student Life and Facilities Services learned of the mold after multiple residents filed work orders reporting mold growth, according to the Coordinator of Student Life for Housing Operations Taylor Gale.
Gale explained that the mold began from excess moisture buildup in the units’ central air conditioning.
“One of the benefits of living in the townhouses is that there’s central air,” Gale said “For whatever reason this year … some of the units were experiencing excess moisture which caused buildup of mildew.”
Gale tried to assure students that the townhouses are still safe to live in and many have been provided with dehumidifiers to combat the problem.
Gale explained that this is also likely a result of the abnormally humid summer that Geneseo experienced this past year.
“Sometimes weather can wreak havoc on our facilities,” Gale said. “That’s something we deal with and have to learn from.”
While the townhouses were affected, other on-campus residences have not experienced the issue, according to Gale.
Despite the efforts to curtail the mold problem, many students, including business administration major senior Nicole Boyle, feel the school hasn’t done enough, especially since Saratoga is among the most expensive and exclusive on-campus living facility.
Boyle’s unit reported unsightly mold in bathrooms and closets that caused damage to personal items and adverse health effects for her housemate who has an allergy to mold.
The unit was informed that they could move to available housing in Alleghany and Genesee residence halls, but the housemates would likely be separated, according to Boyle.
“We were notified that facilities and environmental health and safety were coming to test the mold and ensure that it is safe for us to live here,” Boyle said. “We have been told that they cannot fix the whole mold issue unless we move out with all of our belongings for a period of time.”
Facilities services checked in with units that filed work orders and tested carpets for moisture levels on Sept. 26, according to an email sent to Saratoga Terrace residents.
Working with Student Life, facilities staff is planning on a project to replace the carpeting and flooring in the townhouses for next summer, according to Gale.
Some students, including English major senior Izzy Graziano, a resident of the townhouses, feel that facilities is taking care of this problem too late and that testing the mold now does little for students when it could have been dealt with before they moved in.
“I understand that everyone in Student Life and Facilities is trying hard to solve the issue, but the mold has apparently been a problem since the summer—it should definitely be resolved by now,” Graziano said.
Boyle agrees that staff has been receptive in working with students, but the ordeal has caused inconveniences.
“Facilities and Student Life have all been helpful and receptive,” Boyle said. “I just wish the issues had been solved before we moved in.”
Gale emphasized that facilities staff is working hard to deal with the issue.
“Student safety is definitely our top priority right now, so we’re monitoring it as best as we can,” Gale said. “We realize living in a townhouse is something that students enjoy, it’s a privilege of having those credits, and getting in early deposits...so we want to honor that and we’re trying to do the best we can to keep it that way.”