Noise disturbs students

Most students need alarm clocks to wake them up in the morning. But several Quadrangle residents wake up to the sound of jackhammers and reversing dump trucks each morning -- making their alarm clocks nearly obsolete. For a year and a half, the University has been constructing the Swing Space building at 36th and Spruce streets, right outside the windows of lower Quad and Community House. Residents say the noise from the construction has been a problem. And, with the building scheduled to open sometime in October, L.F. Driscoll Superintendent Harry Kaiser said construction workers are now working overtime and weekends trying to finish the job. While L.F. Driscoll officials say the University advised them not to begin work before 8 a.m. out of consideration for the students, many residents say they have been woken up at 6:45 a.m. or earlier. Wharton freshman Will Simmons said he was rudely awakened just this week. "They start before [8 a.m.]," he said. "I looked at my clock at 6:45 a.m. and they were running machinery. It sounded like a loud sports bike." Other residents say even 8 a.m. is too early to begin the construction. "It's great that they're taking students into consideration," said Wharton freshman Ashley Damron. "But 8 a.m. is just too early." Some residents said, however, that they are aware of the noise, but not effected by it. "I sleep right through it," said College freshman Cory Cresiski. Residential Living has only received a few complaints this school year, compared to last year when workers were exploding dynamite to build the foundation, officials said. "Most of the work is being done inside this year, but we have negotiated quiet hours during finals for the students," said Gordon Rickards, assistant director of Facilities and Residential Operations. Besides the early morning noise, some students complained about dust that enters their rooms over the course of the day. "There's all this gunk and dust that comes into my room," said College freshman Jesse Civan. "It's impossible to breath when the windows are open because of the substances they use," added College freshman Liz Camp. The Swing Space building will open in phases as they complete renovation on different floors.