Airing Grievances At Van Pelt

Does this sound vaguely familiar to anyone? Welcome to the winter wonderland of Van Pelt. Shivering is definitely in vogue this season. I have grown to love my new "Van Pelt Wardrobe" which I cart to the library whenever I study: two Penn sweatshirts, earmuffs and a pair of Tweety Bird mittens I keep clipped to my sleeves just in case. Very fashionable. I also love the closeness that the frozen atmosphere has fostered in our student body. It warms my heart (briefly) to see classmates huddling together to capture some body heat. Their cheeks are so rosy -- that cold air really gives us such a glow. Of course, some students seem to have trouble adjusting. "I can't study for more than two hours without the tips of my fingers freezing off!" I overheard a young woman complain one afternoon. Her breath crystalized before her, lingering like a puff of smoke. I suggested that she might try some Tweety clip-ons, but she looked askance. She wasn't too sure they'd fit in with her image. Other students are taking action. A club called the "Van Pelt Environmentalists" has formed to investigate the source of the area's mysterious cold front. Amy Schiffman, President of VPE, is exploring several theories. "The findings aren't in yet, y'all. But dude, I seriously think Van Pelt is setting temperatures low to keep us awake." What really is going on with Van Pelt? Why is the temperature in some areas set so low? And why, only moments from the frozen tundra, do temperatures suddenly skyrocket to scalding degrees? Why is the heating so inconsistent and extreme? Is this a conspiracy? In all seriousness, I thought that Van Pelt-goers could benefit from answers to queries like these. So I decided to talk to Charles Jenkins, Building Administrator, and find out how the library temperature was regulated. Okay, so here's the thing. First of all, the library is made up of two adjoining buildings. Van Pelt, constructed in 1962, is the eastern part of the structure; Dietrich, built in 1967, is the portion to the west. Each was designed by a different architect, and financial concerns led to the installation of two different kinds of air-handling equipment. So a lot of problems arise from a general imbalance of air-flow caused by the dissimilar systems. Then there are the air-handlers themselves. The library has seventeen air-handlers controlling the temperature in the two buildings -- nine in Van Pelt, eight in Dietrich. Each air-handler regulates a specific section. Although they are geared to create an even air-flow throughout the library, a malfunction in any of the sections can lead to fluctuating temperatures. Presently, the in-between weather of the fall season is also taking its toll. The library is cooled and heated for pre-selected blocks of time. Air conditioning turn-off time is scheduled for October 15, unless it becomes extremely warm outside. Specific sections of the library appear to be more problematic than others. Wide open spaces cause what Jenkins referred to as a "breeze" or "wind chill factor." (Can you believe it?) So the reading area on fifth floor Van Pelt is apt to get a bit nippy. Carrels tend to block such a flow of air. Rosengarten has more extreme temperatures because it is located directly above the air-handlers that control it. The arrangement produces an increase in air-flow to this area. So what can you do when extreme temperatures wreak havoc on your ability to study? "Air" your grievances at the suggestion box on first floor Van Pelt, near the reference desk. Jenkins encourages patrons to be very specific in their requests, because a given area like Rosengarten may be served by several air-handlers. Problems are referred to Physical Plant and generally can be cleared up in a week, depending on parts and personnel availability. But you can always keep a pair of Tweety Bird mittens handy just in case. Elinor Nathanson is a senior Communications major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just In The Nick Of Time appears alternate Fridays.

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