Hamilton interiors remain below par

A missing shower. Exploding heat lamps. Dripping air conditioning units. An absentee closet.

Residents in the newly renovated Hamilton College House -- completed this summer with a $26.5 million price tag -- have been experiencing maintenance problems ranging from the expected to the downright strange.

Calling the failure to initially install a shower in one first-floor room and a closet in another "simply an oversight," Facilities Services Zone Director Betsy Robinson said that both problems have been corrected.

The oversights occurred because the first floor was converted from office space into dormitory rooms, causing some confusion, according to Facilities officials.

Also confused were Engineering sophomore Julia Glaser and her roommate -- the pair who moved into the room without a shower.

"We were very surprised when we discovered we did not have a shower, as you would imagine," Glaser said, explaining that originally her bathroom was not large enough to even fit a shower.

"At first what [Facilities] did -- because they misunderstood us -- was send a guy up with a shower head," she added.

But when the severity of the problem was discovered, Glaser and her roommate were moved into the Sheraton University City for a week, which -- according to Glaser -- "was a big pain in the ass."

Ultimately, the contractors tore down a wall, expanding the bathroom and making space for a shower.

Overall, however, Facilities officials report that since the renovations, the number of maintenance requests in Hamilton has dropped.

"This year compared to past years, we've had fewer maintenance requests," Robinson said, noting, "I can't give you really specific numbers."

Other first-floor problems have included missing blinds, plumbing backups and incorrectly installed shelves, according to the floor's Graduate Associate Peter Cobb, a third-year student in the Law School.

"We have sort of a special situation" because the floor houses residents for the first time, he said, adding that his residents have "been really great about it."

Hamilton Dean Tabitha Dell'Angelo noted that maintenance problems were often frustrating to students for a variety of reasons -- including that students do not know who to direct problems to and they often do not get an immediate response.

"What's really tough is that students don't realize that my job has nothing to do with facilities," she said, adding that maintenance requests have become less problematic since move-in ended. "Thank goodness, things have really calmed down."

Yet, students are still experiencing some problems, according to Dell'Angelo.

"Because of the way the union works, one guy will fix the AC, but he's not allowed to extract the carpet," she said. "Students find that frustrating."

Overall, students note that while they have had problems, they are pleased with the renovations.

After having a burnt-out hall light for two weeks, College freshman Deepshikha Charan said, "Maintenance isn't really quick about responding to problems."

Yet even with the "disconcerting" heat lamp problems -- which were publicized last week when a resident's lamp shattered because it had been painted over during renovations -- Charan said that she was pleased with the renovations.

"The other schools I visited definitely didn't have dorms as nice as this," she said.

Also praising the renovations, College sophomore Alex Perkins said that the expanded windows were his favorite feature since the summer makeover.

"Personally, I love the renovations," Perkins said. "The extra light makes the rooms feel a lot bigger."

Yet Perkins' roommate, College sophomore Michael Esposito, pointed to cracked bathroom walls as a potential renovation oversight.

"I think they could have done the bathrooms," he said. "Our tub is coming off the wall."

Also having a problem with her unrenovated bathroom, College senior Erika Mills noted that the ceiling over her bathroom has been leaking for several weeks.

"The Maintenance came by to fix it, but it's starting again," she said.

Although Mills praised the renovations in general, she questioned the priorities set in the renovations.

"It would have been better if they'd done the bathrooms and kitchens," she said. "They didn't have to paint."

Yet, as a four-year high rise resident, Mills added, "It's definitely much better."

Unfinished business Missing shower: Workers neglected to install a shower in a student bathroom. Water leaks: Air conditioners and ceilings have been dripping. Shattering lamps: Painted heat lamps in bathrooms have exploded.

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