Talk to college housing officials and you'll hear a hint of weariness in their voices. Whats more, pinning blame on students shifts attention away from causes beyond their control, such as the mold crawling inside walls at College of Charlestons McAlister Hall. According to the CDC, mold can affect people in various ways. A judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging an Indiana university breached its contract by provided substandard living assignments to thousands of students staying in residential halls where mold was found. ncary@postandcourier.com South Carolina college students faced at least 2,400 possible cases of mold in their dorms during the past two years, a crush of complaints and repairs that highlight a growing local and national problem: college living spaces that make students sick. Guthries and Rices experiences werent outliers, the Uncovered collaboration found. According to the report, the university is assuring students they are taking measures to treat the mold problem. Dorm students have been reporting mold problems at the University of Maryland since early September, reports the Baltimore Sun. Marylands College of St. Mary had to relocate 239 students after mold was found in two dorms. For students, mold outbreaks add an unnecessary layer of stress that can disrupt their studies, or worse. Even relatively wealthy institutions can find themselves with tight operating budgets and little means to finance building projects other than appealing to donors. Each represents newsworthy mold reports at colleges and universities since 2018. Dartmouth College 2021: Students found mold in multiple dorm rooms across campus and reported adverse health effects that persisted even after the rooms were cleaned. Decreased stress tolerance. Finally, legal counsel for the two parties will negotiate until they reach a satisfactory compromise settlement. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. Turn on exhaust fans, if available, in bathrooms while showering. Brown normally does not allow students to bring air-conditioners to campus, but the humidity and heat in her room were so bad, she said, that facilities workers recommended that she buy one for the space. They included seemingly minor reports about mold in showers. Removal of mold typically requires the destruction of all infected materials, such as sheet rock, floorboards, and furniture. Students at USC, Clemson, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina and Francis Marion University reported hundreds of mold in their dorm rooms over the past two years, a new Uncovered project found. After doing a little research, we were surprised at what we found. This inefficient system makes it more difficult for the state's largest higher education institution to pinpoint mold-prone dorms. The university moved them to Craig Hall, which also has a history of mold. And by the way, all of this was going on during the first round of midterms of my freshman year., Fed up, he sought a meeting with Andrew Hsu, the colleges president, who listened intently. When they were done, a staffer handed Milliken a commemorative coin and had him pose for a photo with Hsu. Last year, students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., wereso fed upthey camped outside their dorms in tents. Fruit that isn't eaten in time often develops nasty (but harmless) mold as it expires, for instance. My life is so much better now.. When presented with those findings, Kirsten Kennedy, USC associate vice president for student housing and sustainability, said: Those are the un-renovated buildings. They opened air vents and discovered filters and grates caked with black fungi. Thats when she found black mold throughout her room in Capstone, an 18-story dorm built in the late-1960s that houses 610 students. A few different types of mold have been labeled toxic, most notablyStachybotrys atra. Its all gotten so bad for many, many years that now its reaching the breaking point, Mr. Lyons said. In South Carolina, a group of students at Morris College in Sumter filed a $55 million class action lawsuit alleging that dorms there made them sick. South Carolina college students faced at least 2,400 possible cases of mold in their dorms during the past two years, living spaces that make students sick. He also apologized. So perhaps your son has one or more of these schools on his roster. So its definitely out there, although there seems to be some debate over how much harm it typically causes. So Sally was nearly an official senior citizen when her son Jack began the college selection process, and when she was finally able to practice what she had preached for more than three decades. Your message should inquire about past mold problems in campus buildings especially (but not exclusively) in dorms. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. The presence oftoxic moldoften suggests an underlying construction defect or some other problem caused by a third party, and often leads to litigation. LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas is paying a former student-athlete $40,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming she became ill because of mold in the vents of her dormitory room. Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. This approach might also net you some conflicting responses that could be useful albeit confusing. They spoke about tough budgets and the challenges of managing aging buildings for thousands of students. Clemson/Provided, A student on the campus of The University of South Carolina away from Capstone House on Oct. 18, 2022. Your best bet in these sorts of cases is to find a localattorney who specializes in toxic mold litigation. You have permission to edit this article. Some have had to endure far worse. It tries to colonize your body, and your body fights it off. If your son has a documented disabilityin this case a mold allergythat makes it impossible for him to live on campus, then its likely that ANY college, regardless of the housing rules, will accommodate him, although you may have to jump through multiple hoops to make this happen.). Others suggested mold was more widespread. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The mold really impacted everyones academics, Milliken said. Market data provided by Factset. About a month later, I started getting really, really terrible pains in my ears, said Ms. Cuccia, 19. 1. He told me, You cant stay where youre staying. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. But the university has provided millions of dollars to students affected by mold issues as part of a reimbursement plan. His roommate got sick again. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fourth-year public health student Kendall Guthrie found the mold when returning to campus after winter break. Our paint program alone includes improvements to more than 75 percent of rooms each year, he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Everyone in my room is experiencing symptoms of black mold, a student at Coastal Carolina Universitys Ingle Hall reported in September 2021. using bleach and water or an antimicrobial cleanser like Foster 40-80. Below are pictures taken of an air conditioning unit in a college dorm room that was making the residents sick: It can be. Colleges and students should treat mold as a serious problem. Low 56F. READ MORE: Judge Allows Most Of IU Mold Lawsuit To Move Forward. The court sent the case back to Monroe County Circuit Court for further action. Sometimes their posters slipped onto the floor. While plenty of students defect for off-campus apartments, the units that students on a budget can afford may not be any better maintained than the dorms. Taking these steps may prevent mold in dorms. Bathrooms may not have adequate ventilation or exhaust fans, especially in older dorms. Black mold is actively growing, covering the ceiling, the window, and now the bed frames, a student in Winthrop Universitys Richardson Hall told the school in August 2020. You want to be the person who donates a library, a lobby, a student center, a building, a whole program. Find a pre-screened local mold removal specialist Free Estimate. Susan Brinchman, who founded the Center for School Mold Help, told Health magazine that students should treat the building like its on fire. At Clemson, the schools Lightsey Bridge complex had 69 mold reports during a roughly two-year period, the most of any of the schools dorms. I would, Winter Break is an awesome break from schoolwork and classes. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the university denies the claims but agreed to pay Laine Evans $20,000 and her attorneys $20,000 to settle the lawsuit. Facilities workers at several universities acknowledged that there were dismal conditions in some buildings on their campuses, and pointed to aging infrastructure, shortages of funds and a lack of political will to make upkeep a priority. Soon she spotted some mold in her own room as well, growing on walls and furniture. IN THE NEWS CONTACT Contact Me If the mold cannot be removed right away, of if youre experiencing mold-related health problems, ask them to move you to a different dorm temporarily until your dorm can be properly cleaned. It recommended routine housekeeping. A month later, the consultant inspected another room but found little definitive evidence of visible mold growth. Weeks passed. As your son chooses his college, you will want to carefully consider the answers you get to your questions. Christina M. Burress, Oct. 27, 2022 | Or they had preexisting allergies that fired up when they moved to a new place. The lawsuit argues the university knew of mold growing in the dormitory before students moved in but alleges the university "directed maintenance workers to conceal the health threat by painting . Can You Live In A House With Mold? South Carolina isnt the only state that has moldy dorms. But this problem can be managed well if detected early. Nicole Ziege, Zharia Jeffies, Nathaniel Cary, Avery Wilks and Glenn Smith of The Post and Courier reported for this Uncovered project. Its not the right approach to hide a mold problem.". According to the report, Olivia suffered from Crohns disease and a weak immune system. He eventually graduated early, but his roommate left school altogether amid the chaos. Every campus that has water, facilities and showers is going to encounter mold on occasion, he said. I tried to smile, but you can see my hair was messed up, I was pale and hadnt slept for a while.. Kailey Cota, the student editor in chief, coordinated that newspapers reporting for this project. Consider what happened at Lander University, a college of 3,800 students in Greenwood. Grace Beahm Alford gbeahm@postandcourier.com, Toxic mold is making college miserable for thousands in SC, across the nation, By Nathaniel Cary In October 2021, the universitys consultant inspected three rooms in Chipley Hall and found a small amount of mold in a units shared bathroom. View Mark's articles Email Mark It's located on St. Phillip Street in downtown Charleston. You can also change some of your preferences. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. So if the plaintiff has a fairly strong case and proof of toxic mold infestation, but with a sliver of doubt as to the causation of the illnesses, the base settlement amount (calculated as if there were a 100 percent chance of succeeding at trial) may be discounted by 30 percent or so. Some people are allergic to it, and some are poisoned by it, said William Weirs, a doctor with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine in North Charleston. Winds light and variable. Ride-along: What does it take to run a Charleston food truck? In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Business Journal. Despite efforts to clean up the mold, university officials agreed that only a full-scale renovation of the residence centers would eliminate it, The Herald Times reported. Since college newspapers often document mold outbreaks first, the Uncovered team also worked with Daily Gamecock journalists at the University of South Carolina and a journalist with The Tiger at Clemson University. You can also keep your eyes open for visible mold or for other indications that it may be lurking (e.g., outdated, dirty air-conditioning units, water damage, leaks, telltale smells). See a doctor right away if youre experiencing any mold-related health problems. (Getty Images) (Getty). Ask also about the best choice of living situation for your son, revealing as much of his health history as is comfortable. Today, schools have an estimated $112 billion repair and maintenance backlog, the Gordian and APPA study found. Reporters analyzed work orders to identify problem dorms and interviewed students, administrators and health experts. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Housing officials, meanwhile, tend to downplay concerns. program, Proposed rule change would require audio recording for all hearings, prohibit stenography. For instance, it could be the result of construction defects, faulty materials, poor architectural design, or the previous owner's failure to disclose known problems. If exhaust fans aren't available, open a window a few inches if possible to increase ventilation. Max Milliken met College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu over concerns about mold and that his College Lodge dorm wasn't getting the kind of maintenance attention that other dorms were receiving. Damages often include medical costs, related losses (such as time off work to recover from injury), and the cost of cleanup and structural restoration. Winds light and variable.. Cloudy. and David Ferrara of The (Clemson) Tiger, By Nicole Ziege They said social media ginned up peoples interest in mold, prompting what they thought were overreactions. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. The University of South Carolina had the most complaints and also lacked an efficient system to track mold outbreaks, a new Uncovered investigation found. We're looking for stories and input to expand our database and to add to the personal experiences we've received from the thousands of victims over the last 15. Theres no doubt mold can harm students health. Colleges and universities nationwide face an estimated $112 billionmaintenance and repair backlog, a massive deferral of work that contributed to mold outbreaks. Not only was her room covered in mold, but black mold blotches blossomed on the ceiling in the hallway. To address concerns about the breakout of mold on students academic performance, faculty were instructed to make accommodations, particularly in regard to assignments and exams. You can purchase do-it-yourself tests but they are not nearly as accurate, and the results can vary greatly if they are not used correctly. Black mold is growing on walls. Students said they found mold on their desks, mattresses, couches and even their hats. Athletic and trim, she also struggled with asthma. Even before college, Rice knew she was sensitive to mold based on earlier tests by her allergist. An internal USC publication previously dubbed him the "mold detective." We tried to get rid of the mold, doing research, cleaning, leaving the door open to reduce the moisture, she recalled. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Not only can you speak with disability coordinators (and other officials) in person, but also you can talk directly to students about mold and other health concerns in their dorm rooms. At USC, Mary Blaschke found mold covering her bathroom when she moved into Capstone House as a freshman in August 2020. Penicillium has a blue-green tint and an uncanny ability to knock out bacteria, which is why we use it to make penicillin. 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