The Lamron

Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Taryn Thompson The Geneseo State Television (GSTV) studio has at least six (five shown here) holes in its ceiling due to water runoff from melting snow on the Union Patio, located directly above the studio.

Water leaking from the ceiling of the Geneseo State Television (GSTV) studio has forced the station to cancel some live programs and has raised significant safety concerns.

The studio, located in the basement of the College Union, is situated directly under the Union patio. Circumstances such as natural wear and tear, the recent snow storm, and insufficient water drainage management have all contributed to the worsening condition of the Union patio over the past several years. The water has penetrated the lower level of the Union and is now presenting an obstacle for the campus station.

The leaking is not new, but the amount of water dripping from the studio ceiling has increased significantly since the weekend. "The leaking became an issue for us last year," said senior Colleen Keltz, GSTV's general manager. "In the Fall we had to cancel multiple broadcasts due to water leaking near outlets and lights. This year it has become a greater issue as the leaks have intensified," she said.

"My first concern is with the safety of the students in GSTV, especially given all of the wiring down there," said Student Association President Brendan Quinn. "GSTV has stopped taping in their studio until the leaking subsides; however, they are still able to broadcast shows that have been previously recorded," he explained.

Rebuilding the Union patio has been on the agenda for Facilities Planning and Construction for a number of years, but other projects have taken priority. According to Charles Matthews, director of College Union and Activities, reconstruction of the Union patio is expected to begin near the end of the semester. Jeff Kaplan, director of Facilities Services, was unavailable for comment.

In the mean time, Matthews has discussed temporary solutions with GSTV. "One of the options we've had is to move the studio to Newton, where there are outfitted production studios that could house the station short-term," said Matthews. "The hope was that the leaking would not get to the extent at which it is now, and that the patio would have been repaired and we would have been able to weather this storm, but apparently the patio is failing more quickly than we thought," he said.

Continued...

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