For some students living in the college houses, mushrooms are not simply a supermarket item but also a facility concern.
In room 609 of Hamilton College House, mold has been growing from the ceiling of the shower for about a month.
While residents said they have repeatedly asked for assistance, facilities officials said they were not aware of the complaint.
About six inches wide, the affected area is located near the showerhead, where the ceiling meets the wall. Another patch is now forming behind the toilet.
"It seems like there is a pocket between the paint and the ceiling," said College sophomore and room resident Jessica Schreiber.
"It's disgusting, and it's really unhealthy," said College sophomore Jennifer Kessler, who is another suite resident.
A similar situation was reported in October in DuBois College House, but there the problem was quickly solved.
Schreiber and Kessler said they called Facilities Services three times in the past two weeks, but to no avail.
Maintenance personnel did observe the mushrooms earlier this month when they came to the room to check for possible damages caused by a leak on the seventh floor. However, nothing was done to eliminate the mold.
The second time Schreiber called Facilities, she asked that her problem be upgraded to emergency status. When no one came, she called again last Monday. She was assured that the report had been received, but the problem is still standing.
"People at Maintenance are dispatchers," Schreiber said. "They are nice, but they can't do anything. They can only report the problem."
Facilities administrators said they were not informed of the situation.
"I don't know of any widespread problem," Locust Area Facilities Services Director Betsy Robinson said. "If we have it, it's individual to that room."
Schreiber said she also tried calling Barry Lasley, housing services building administrator, who handles student complaints in matters relating to facilities.
While waiting for Maintenance personnel to fix the damage, the three residents continue to use the room's facilities.
"We are using the shower, but I don't know how healthy it is," Schreiber said.
Hamilton's facilities and structures were remodeled last summer at a cost of $26.5 million, but the renovations were not comprehensive.
"The bathrooms were not touched,"Robinson said.
"I had chosen to live on campus so that unhealthy issues would be taken care of," Kessler said.
Despite the situation, the room's residents said they are not looking to relocate.
"I don't want another room," Schreiber said.
"I'm going to work on the fact they didn't come. ... I'm sure there is some kind of health violation."
