Chris JonesFaculty members are upset about how dirty the college is, especially Founder’s Hall.
The faculty is bothered by the dirtiness of the bathrooms, the blackboards, the trashcans and the desks.
According to John Heiberger, professor of business administration, “Many times the toilets are broken in Founder’s Hall, and the housekeepers cover them with plastic bags and they are then inoperable for several days.” Often toilets are dirty, as are floors and mirrors. Dr. Marty Waring-Chaffee, associate professor of education, said, “Last week there wasn’t any toilet paper in a bathroom for two days.”
The classrooms are a major concern among the faculty. Instructors say the chalk build-up on the ledge is ridiculous. Many times they end up with chalk all over their hands and clothes.
Dr. Margaret McGuinness, professor of religious studies, attended a faculty senate session that involved issues about the cleanliness of the school. McGuinness said, “It is difficult when a board hasn’t been washed. Worse, when a classroom has an odor in it. We’re not being nit-picky, but someone really has to look at this. Dr. Guerra understands and she’s not letting this rest.”
Frequently, trashcans are overflowing and desks are completely disorganized.
Dr. Adeline Bethany, professor of fine arts, said, “On Sunday, Oct. 6 the Fine Arts Department hosted an exhibit in the exhibit area of the library. The next evening at 7 p.m., I brought two guests over to view the exhibit. All the trash from the previous day (the opening reception ended at 5:00 p.m.) was still in the room. The trashcan was overflowing with used plastic cups and paper plates. It was embarrassing.”
Waring-Chaffee said, “These matters of cleanliness are important because faculty and students need to feel comfortable in the environment.”
McGuinness said, “[Students] can’t learn if it’s not neat and tidy. You need to establish a sense that you’re ready to learn.”
“There is a lot of trash just lying around campus like litter and such in the grass and the woods,” junior Ethan Peiffer said.
“The non-residential halls aren’t that bad. The Dixon Center, Grace Hall, the Mansion and Founder’s Hall are always kept very nice. But the residential halls, especially the houses, are not cleaned as well as they could be. My high school was cleaner, but it was also a very small school and, therefore, easier to keep spotless. Founder’s may be dirty in spots, but that is just daily wear and it isn’t left to pile up.”
Teachers agree that the Widener Center is clean, for the most part. There is a lot of traffic going through Founder’s Hall, especially in the main entrance because the cafeteria is just downstairs. There is also the cut from Widener therefore the carpets are dirtier.
Waring-Chaffee said, “For us as faculty and for you as students the environment has to be comfortable to enable us to teach and learn without the distractions of trash.”
Something else the faculty has noticed are the ramps leading from the Widener Center to Founder’s Hall. Cigarette butts, napkins and trash are piled up in corners.
McGuinness said, “This should be a non-issue. We need to take care of this. But on the up side, they’ve enlarged trashcans, which was good and the grounds are pretty clean, even the parking lot.”
