We'd like to begin by stating this editorial is not to be seen as alarmist or unnecessarily provocative. We simply wish to call your attention to issues that could affect the quality of life for some of the Auburn family.
We begin on a positive note: while there is asbestos within the Haley Center and other buildings on campus like Foy Student Union, it is not believed to be harmful to students.
The nature of the asbestos in the building is such that only if it is disturbed by construction or maintenance and one suffers prolonged exposure to it will one see the negative health effects caused by the substance.
The asbestos in the flooring is kept in check with a simple, occasional waxing.
The asbestos present in the insulation should be, according to experts, fine as long as it is not disturbed.
However, for those faculty members and support staff that spend their lives working and "living" in Haley, there are some problems that do need to be discussed, as they pose a real and present issue to health and safety.
We live in the South with a climate known for heat and humidity, the perfect storm that allows black mold to grow and expand.
There are numerous areas of Haley Center where this mold is present, and those professors and support staff who are made to work near these conditions should be concerned about how this could be affecting their health.
We strongly encourage all of the building managers on campus to be diligent in finding these problems and eradicating in a swift and timely fashion.
The black mold issue is a pressing one, but the central thesis of Haley's problems stems from one simple word: renovation.
We all know Haley is horribly outdated and needs to be renovated, if only to allow each classroom to have full access to the technological age we live in.
There are no meeting places for students, and the offices and storage spaces are known to be quite the logistical nightmare for faculty and building support staff.
Renovations and updates are drastically needed, yes, but costs would be astronomical and the logistics of closing Haley for the requisite amount of time to complete such updates would force a slew of "mobile classrooms" (see: trailers) onto a campus that already has space issues. We don't need more parking problems than what we have now.
Honestly, it would be cheaper to build a new Haley Center than it would be to perform all of the needed updates on the current structure.
There is not an easy or clear-cut solution to this larger problem, and many campus leaders are now attempting to figure out how best to address these issues.
We await their decisions, but we want you, Auburn's students, faculty and staff to be aware of what is around you.
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