Students weigh housing options
Dawn Marie Perry
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: News
This isn't a new thought. Many students who were interviewed are dissatisfied with the size of the dorms, claiming there is not enough space for personal privacy. Space may be a problem for some, but for others we are exceptionally fortunate, especially in comparison to schoolsuch as SUNY Cortland, and SUNY Purchase, where overcrowding is rampant.
Jeremiah Miller offers a reasonable solution to this problem. "The issue of space depends on how much unnecessary junk you bring to college. Sometimes people bring stuff to school and they don't use it at all, and that takes up space. Our solutions start with us... This philosophy can be applied to how we treat our floors. Numerous students are pleased with the maintenance staff, who often go above and beyond their job descriptions. When you stop and think about it, we are more responsible for the conditions of the bathrooms, bedrooms, furniture, carpeting, etc. Of course the dressers are dented, or fall off track, and the sofas in the lounge are torn and smell a little funny. Who uses it the most? We do! Therefore it is our responsibility to take care of our buildings. However there are some situations that go beyond our abilities. For junior art major Whitney Woodcock, Lehman North Apartments might be the exception. I asked her if she was satisfied with living on-campus at SUNY Potsdam.
"I am satisfied, yes. They're improving it, throwing in the gym and everything so it's becoming more reliable for everyone, especially during the winter months where you don't have to go outside to go to, say, Maxcy---that's way too far away," Whitney laughs.
But on a serious note, Whitney felt the maintenance of Lehman was inadequate. "I lived in the same place last year and the sink was constantly clogged. They finally fixed it this year by putting a hole in the wall and redoing the pipes, except no one has come back to fix the hole in the wall. Maintenance could improve A LOT…such as finishing the job they started…it would be greatly appreciated. I asked her how could her building be improved, and without hesitation she mentions Lehman's potential lead problem---a topic which caught me off guard. "They could strip the lead paint off the walls, so we don't have to keep signing a form about not suing them if we get sick from it.
Jeremiah Miller offers a reasonable solution to this problem. "The issue of space depends on how much unnecessary junk you bring to college. Sometimes people bring stuff to school and they don't use it at all, and that takes up space. Our solutions start with us... This philosophy can be applied to how we treat our floors. Numerous students are pleased with the maintenance staff, who often go above and beyond their job descriptions. When you stop and think about it, we are more responsible for the conditions of the bathrooms, bedrooms, furniture, carpeting, etc. Of course the dressers are dented, or fall off track, and the sofas in the lounge are torn and smell a little funny. Who uses it the most? We do! Therefore it is our responsibility to take care of our buildings. However there are some situations that go beyond our abilities. For junior art major Whitney Woodcock, Lehman North Apartments might be the exception. I asked her if she was satisfied with living on-campus at SUNY Potsdam.
"I am satisfied, yes. They're improving it, throwing in the gym and everything so it's becoming more reliable for everyone, especially during the winter months where you don't have to go outside to go to, say, Maxcy---that's way too far away," Whitney laughs.
But on a serious note, Whitney felt the maintenance of Lehman was inadequate. "I lived in the same place last year and the sink was constantly clogged. They finally fixed it this year by putting a hole in the wall and redoing the pipes, except no one has come back to fix the hole in the wall. Maintenance could improve A LOT…such as finishing the job they started…it would be greatly appreciated. I asked her how could her building be improved, and without hesitation she mentions Lehman's potential lead problem---a topic which caught me off guard. "They could strip the lead paint off the walls, so we don't have to keep signing a form about not suing them if we get sick from it.
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