A group of about 10 Kutztown University faculty and staff filed a complaint about the Lytle Hall building on campus with the Department of Labor & Industry, citing healthy and safety concerns.
“Unfortunately, Lytle Hall is a “sick” building,” KU computer science professor Daniel Spiegel wrote to media. “It is riddled with mold, corrosion, rodents, and decay. It also contains asbestos. Faculty and staff have, for a number of years, reported a number of health problems associated with this building, and have been fighting to have the issues addressed for more than 10 years, although the problems have been present for an even longer time.”
According to Spiegel, Lytle Hall, located on the north side of campus, was completed in 1976 and presently serves as the home of the English, History, and Math departments in the College of Arts & Sciences.
“This cramped little building holds classrooms and faculty offices, and given the significance of the majors housed there, most every student takes a course in this building at one time or another during their matriculation,” writes Spiegel.
According to Spiegel, among the numerous health issues claimed include constant headaches, skin rashes, allergy symptoms, congestion, respiratory problems, and asthma attacks of greater severity than elsewhere. Spiegel notes that several people have an air purifier in their offices to combat the problems.
“Faculty and staff have tried to work through official channels, but have not been successful,” said Spiegel.
Faculty filed a complaint on Jan. 18 with the PA Department of Labor & Industry, citing the General Safety Law: http://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Labor-Management-Relations/bois/Pages/General-Safety.aspx
“The faculty, staff, and students have serious concerns about Lytle Hall,” said one of the complainants, history professor Dr. Michael Gambone, who has an office in Lytle Hall. “We believe that Lytle Hall illustrates some of the dangers of cutting educational funding across Pennsylvania. We are asking local management and the state system of higher education to take appropriate action to fix the many problems affecting the classrooms and offices of this facility.”
According to the complaint filed with the Department of Labor and Industry, “There are a series of long-standing health and safety problems affecting Lytle Hall at Kutztown University… Faculty have frequently complained about respiratory difficulties, including long-term, persistent coughing, caused or exacerbated by the air quality and other problems in the building. Faculty have also complained about bug and rodent infestations, bad odors, headaches, and skin rashes… Local management responses to these issues have been inadequate.”
The complaint cites corroded and moldy air conditioning/heat units, mold, rodent feces, water damage and moldy pipe wrap.
“We believe that a more detailed examination of every office, classroom, and restrooms in Lytle Hall will result in additional evidence of these same problems. We are requesting your assistance in remedying these many problems.”
Kutztown University Director of University Relations Matt Santos said in a statement that “Kutztown University has and continues to make investments in its campus facilities to provide safe, clean, technologically current learning environments.”
He said campus facilities are monitored continuously and scheduled for renovation as appropriate.
“In the case of Lytle hall, replacement of its HVAC equipment have been determined to be needed, which has been scheduled for summer 2017. Although the current HVAC equipment provides a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff, and no documented health issues have been reported, renovated equipment will operate more efficiently and allow the University greater control over the building’s environment. As always, any specific facility issues reported through the campus work order system are appropriately addressed by the University’s Facility Maintenance Department.”