Ask any student or teacher on campus if they have been frozen or melted out of their classroom, and they would probably give you a heated response.

While some of the updated buildings have proper air controls, many are still without proper or consistent heating and air-conditioning, which is affecting students’ ability to learn and teachers’  ability to educate.

The most problematic buildings on campus are the largest: the Liberal  Arts Center (LAC) and the Sette LaVerghetta Center for the Performing Arts (SLC).

Marywood is working to raise $75 million as part of the Centennial Capital Campaign, “A Bold Heart.” The centerpiece of this campaign, which was officially launched in mid-October, is a new, state-of-the-art Learning Commons, which will cost an approximated $35 million dollars. The remaining $40 million will help to support emerging media, preforming arts, athletics, and science and health departments. None of this money is being allocated to update the outdated heating and cooling systems in the older buildings that occupy a significant amount of the university’s  core classes including English, philosophy, religion, and social sciences.

Hardly anyone can argue that Marywood’s library is in need of a major update. But it seems illogical to spend such a significant amount of money on a single building, when such a significant portion of the campus is without proper air-conditioning and heating controls.

Some professors have had to either relocate or let their classes out earlier than scheduled because the temperatures have been unbearable. Philosophy professor, Dr. John DePoe said he had to move one of his classes this semester in the Liberal Arts Center because of the extreme heat, lack of air conditioning and lack of ventilation. Talk to any other teacher or student on campus and they can probably add stories of their own.

Teachers are forced to teach in classrooms that are too hot or too cold, while students are forced to flock to the nearest open window for air, or pile on extra clothing to survive cold temperatures. Being uncomfortable in class, whether hot or cold, is not ideal for any student or teacher. Students and teachers should not be distracted from the educational process because of uncomfortable temperatures.

A lack of proper air conditioning also leads to another problem: bugs. Opening the windows, which in both the LAC and SLC are not equipped with screens, allows bugs to fly in and disrupt classes.
In the winter, the out-of-date radiators in the LAC tend to make a lot of noise, which can be annoying and disruptive in the classroom, especially while trying to concentrate during testing.

Marywood needs to make installing proper temperature controls in these older buildings a priority. It’s not fair to the students and faculty to endure uncomfortable temperatures during class.  Rather, they should be focused on learning in a comfortable, temperate environment.