Geneseo dorm disasters

A list of campus conundrums

Photo courtesy of Faith Zatlukal

Here at The Lamron, we have taken notice of many difficulties living on campus this semester—and, truly, throughout all of our college careers. Though these issues are not exclusive to the winter months, they have been exacerbated by the cold weather and snowy conditions. We thought, given our interactions with many of our peers, that it might be cathartic for all of us to get some collective complaining out of the way; therefore, what follows is a list of a few of the troubles we have experienced as we make our way around campus and settle in our cozy twin beds at the end of the day. 

One member of The Lamron memorably panned their camera around their dorm in the middle of one of our weekly e-board meetings, showcasing a rather large addition to the center of their room—a space heater, generously provided by a heating plant when the temperature of their dorm persisted around 60 degrees. The student noted gratitude for the heating plant workers who were attempting to address their heating situation, but nonetheless remains frustrated at the reality that our very old residence buildings are having heat problems in the middle of a frigid winter. 

That winter is also making travel across campus quite difficult. If you have not had a conversation with a friend recently that includes some reference to almost wiping out while walking up one of our hills, you may be on your own. One member of The Lamron noted that, “The dorms’ sidewalks are not properly cleared during snow conditions and it becomes very dangerous—especially if you already have conditions affecting your movement and balance.” Another member stated, “I have almost died walking down so many hills, especially early in the morning.” I think we would all appreciate a little more concern for the sanctity of our bodily health as we skate across the ice in our poor-traction Ugg boots. 

Some daily tasks we all must do are made more difficult by the conditions of our residence halls. Students note that vending machines are constantly shutting down, along with elevators and washing/drying machines. Maybe it is not that big of a deal to you if you cannot grab a late-night snack, but it might concern you if you run out of pants because, as one student is currently experiencing, their laundry room has been entirely shut down for a week. The elevator issue is further troubling as an accessibility concern for many students on higher floors; students who chose a dorm specifically for its elevator might find themselves disappointed by its frequent inability to carry out its sole function. 

What appears to be the main point for many students is that, despite the frequent and varied issues that arise in our buildings, we pay quite a bit to live in them. One member of The Lamron stated that while they used to live on-campus, they have not lived in the dorms for the past two years but spend “thousands of dollars less on rent for better conditions.” Another student who also currently lives off-campus agreed about the difference in price and quality, and further commented that when they did live on-campus, “there was orange/yellow water coming out of the sinks.” A lovely image. 

We at The Lamron do not want you to think that we abhor our dear Geneseo; we are, however, a bit concerned about the quality of our living conditions. While we cannot say we hope you resonate with the concerns listed above, we understand that you likely will, and can only say that we seek to provide a voice for everyone experiencing the same issues we are.