Despite recent, warmer weather, Ohio University cannot turn off the heat to its facilities once it's on, leaving some dorms and classrooms either too cold or too hot.
Ohio University freshman Cori Campbell keeps the windows open and two fans on in her dorm room to keep air moving, even though it’s the middle of the winter.
“My dorm is 78 degrees,” Campbell said, adding that the hallway in Lincoln Hall is “absurdly hot.”
That’s because once OU turns the heat on for the dorms, it stays on until it gets switched off in the spring, even if the weather is warm.
Campbell, who is studying education, reported her problem to maintenance, which “lowered it to 74 for a day.”
The next day, her room’s temperature was back up to 78 degrees, she said.
OU heats its dorms with steam, distributed through the steam tunnels running throughout campus.
“Steam is available and basically the heart of where the heat is coming from a majority of the campus,” said Steve Wood, executive director for facilities management.
How the heat is distributed in individual classrooms also varies by facility, he said.
“If people have concerns about the temperatures they can address that by calling our work control office and we will get that addressed,” Wood said.
Anna Korenewych, a freshman studying education, has also had her fair share of temperature problems.
She turns on the air conditioner and opens the windows in her room.
“I have talked to my resident assistant, who turned it down a little,” Korenewych said. “Then other people on my floor complained it was too cold.”
Her English class is too cold, she said, and she suggests dressing in layers.
Those who have complaints about their room temperature can call the Facilities Work Center at 740-593-2911.
@megankhenry
