If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. So far, the project has progressed exceptionally well, said Tom Morrison, IUs vice president for capital planning and facilities. This official can tell you what the college policies are when it comes to selecting on-campus housing for students with severe mold allergies, what happens to those who need to change dorms, and what provisions are made for students who feel that they cannot live on campus at all, even if they are "required" to do so. Cloudy. If See Our 5 Recommended Mold Removal Companies in Aberdeen, SD, Mold Types Found In Homes .Identification, Finding Mold, Testing. Mushrooms began to grow. tbartelme@postandcourier.com IU dorm infested by mold in May of 2019 (Steve Burns/WFIU) Indiana's Court of Appeals ruled in favor of IU in an appeal of a class action lawsuit filed by students who lived in dorms . The school moved her to another room, and she soon recovered, he said. South Carolina isnt the only state that has moldy dorms. (Getty Images), Off-duty Chicago cop interrupts robbery, shoots suspect on South Side: officials, Moraine Valley psych students get a crash course in empathy by helping others, Alderman blocks Norfolk Southerns Englewood rail yard expansion with delay on land vote: Its just been a disrespect to me and the community, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Look closely, and you can see a mushroom growing from the ceiling of a hallway in Capstone in January 2021. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Alvin Powell. Guthries and Rices experiences werent outliers, the Uncovered collaboration found. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the university denies the claims but agreed to pay Laine Evans $20,000 and her attorneys $20,000 to settle the lawsuit. We recently received a request for information about mold in college dorms. Send concurrent emails to these additional officials on each campus: the director of the health services, the dean of residence life, and the facilities/physical plant manager. He also apologized. It's located on St. Phillip Street in downtown Charleston. ? The paint peeled, coming off the wall in foot-long strips. Whats more, pinning blame on students shifts attention away from causes beyond their control, such as the mold crawling inside walls at College of Charlestons McAlister Hall. Ask also about the best choice of living situation for your son, revealing as much of his health history as is comfortable. Others suggested mold was more widespread. And many more. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff, SOURCE: UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTS FROM FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS. Its not the right approach to hide a mold problem.". This photo was included in one of the inspection reports obtained by The Post and Courier. If that is the case, clean any areas of mold or mildew promptly, Those projects made more than 2,000 beds unavailable at the residence halls, forcing students to live off campus. Virus kills 11th medically fragile child at New Jersey facility. Inspectors found mold on bed frames, in air vents and even behind mirrors. The college discovered mold in the HVAC system, ceilings, caulking, and bathrooms. Mold was found in the LSU Dorm. In South Carolina, a group of students at Morris College in Sumter filed a $55 million class action lawsuit alleging that dorms there made them sick. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And back closer to the coast, Coastal Carolina in Conway had 229 cases andFrancis Marion 184. Lawsuit or not, the school has received a chorus of mold complaints about . He recalled the case of a student from the Charleston area who had a full athletic scholarship to a college in Virginia. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Barren River District Health Department public information officer Ashley McCarty said, "Kentucky actually doesn't have any laws or regulations or standards for permissible exposure of mold and buildings, so for that reason the health department doesn't have the authority to react on any complaints involving mold." This unfortunately has become more of a lifelong issue, said Ms. Melton, 19, who has been encouraging other college students to look for signs of mold when they move into their dorms. The university moved them to Craig Hall, which also has a history of mold. Students were housed in other dorms during that time. Said Harrison of Coastal Carolina: When it wasnt Tik Tok, it was a parent Facebook group, and you know, if someone did a strict analysis of that parent Facebook group, theyd find it was really two parents who brought the issue up frequently. He said that when he talks with other university housing leaders around the country, they describe concerns about mold as this kind of moment in society.. Finally, legal counsel for the two parties will negotiate until they reach a satisfactory compromise settlement. While plenty of students defect for off-campus apartments, the units that students on a budget can afford may not be any better maintained than the dorms. She suggested that, as you help your son select a college from among those that have admitted him, you should begin by contacting the disabilities services office at all the schools that your son may potentially attend. Black mold is actively growing, covering the ceiling, the window, and now the bed frames, a student in Winthrop Universitys Richardson Hall told the school in August 2020. At Clemson, the schools Lightsey Bridge complex had 69 mold reports during a roughly two-year period, the most of any of the schools dorms. Or what happened in Chipley Hall at Lander University in Greenwood, where inspectors looked inside vents and ductwork and found mold that affected 46 rooms. During her sophomore year in 2020, Rice noticed mold growing in the bathroom she shared with her roommates. Paramedics rushed her to the hospital. Mold in college dorms does seem to be a growing problem (no pun intended). It can be difficult to reconcile such problems with university endowments that can reach billions of dollars. Can You Live In A House With Mold? Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Inspectors hired by Lander University found mold under bedding in Chipley Hall. "We've got a big campus and 7,000 rooms, so we've got a lot" of work. In South Carolina, a group of students at Morris College in Sumter filed a $55 million class action lawsuit alleging that dorms there made them sick. She died there, her lungs full of fluid, a campus police report said. Those projects made more than 2,000 beds unavailable at the residence halls forcing students to live off campus. Other large schools, including the College of Charleston and Clemson, responded quickly and provided information for free. using bleach and water or an antimicrobial cleanser like Foster 40-80. Reviewed by Chris Meyers, Esq. The sheer size of some campuses, especially those with historic structures, adds extra layers of complexity. Learn more about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. The school told The (Greenwood) Index-Journal, an Uncovered partner, that the mold has since been cleaned up. Toxic mold makes SC college studetrs miserable | News | pmg-sc.com Skip to main content Thank you for reading! When College Dormitories Become Health Hazards, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/25/us/college-dorms-mold-health.html. According to the report, Olivia suffered from Crohns disease and a weak immune system. In addition to making a causal link from the existence of mold to specific illnesses, plaintiffs must determine who is ultimately responsible for the mold damage and how they may be liable. And some universities do not give students the choice, requiring them to live on campus for their first year or longer. And then, so did a mushroom, she said. When arriving at a dollar value for total damages, plaintiff's attorneys typically review verdicts and settlements reached in similar toxic mold cases. Damages often include medical costs, related losses (such as time off work to recover from injury), and the cost of cleanup and structural restoration. School officials here downplayed students' concerns. According to the CDC, mold can affect people in various ways. Provided, Lightsey Bridge II in Clemson. At USC, Mary Blaschke found mold covering her bathroom when she moved into Capstone House as a freshman in August 2020. remove mold thoroughly or if there are moldy areas you arent responsible for Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting. Many mold strains generate toxins that trigger myriad health problems, from asthma and allergies to brain fog. Tweet. My son has already been admitted to several colleges and has gotten some great merit aid, but what good is it, if he cant attend due to the horrors of mold? In South Carolina, a group of students at Morris College in Sumter filed a $55 million class action lawsuit alleging that dorms there made them sick. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, Begin typing to search, use arrow If you spot it, put it on your email list.). As early as 2006, the schools facilities director called its air conditioning system a wreck. Its issues were so bad the university is now renovating it to the tune of $32 million. Ask when and where these problems occurred and how they were remedied. In the lawsuit filed in 2018, she alleged the on-campus apartment building where she lived safe was unsafe for housing. At Clemson, Bennett Brooks, a sophomore in the duplex-style Thornhill Village residences, said he felt lethargic and had a runny nose for months. Brian E. Clark, a Brown spokesman, said that while there may be isolated issues with dorm rooms, they did not indicate a widespread problem at the university. Taking these steps may prevent mold in dorms. Colleges and students should treat mold as a serious problem. In South Carolina, a group of students at Morris College in Sumter filed a $55 million class action lawsuit alleging that dorms there made them sick. But the reduction came with an admission: They had to go through work orders one by one to identify complaints that specifically mentioned mold. The bad part is that you dont have any prominent symptoms like you have with COVID, he said. In 1698, an English physician named Sir John Floyer reported for the first time in Western literature how an asthmatic patient fell into a violent fit, by going into a wine cellar where the must was fermenting. In the 1870s, another English physician showed that inhaling penicillium molds in hay could trigger breathing problems. Night sweats. Our paint program alone includes improvements to more than 75 percent of rooms each year, he said. In addition to these measures, colleges should consider performing routine mold inspections. To address concerns about the breakout of mold on students academic performance, faculty were instructed to make accommodations, particularly in regard to assignments and exams. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Yet while many housing officials spoke about their diligence in handling mold complaints, they also talked at length about how students and parents were a big part of the problem. While Marylands situation has raised some hype, its not the first college to deal with mold problems. LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas is paying a former student-athlete $40,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming she became ill because of mold in the vents of her dormitory room. The newspaper teamed up with its Uncovered partners, a collaboration of local newspapers across South Carolina that explores questionable government conduct. Their work included contacting more than 100 students, interviewing 15 who had notable mold stories and testing several dorms for mold. For Kayra Rice, her move to USC from her mold-ridden dorm at Francis Marion turned out to be one of the best things that happened to her. 2. However, students are now raising health concerns they claim the mold might have caused. Students at USC, Clemson, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina and Francis Marion University reported hundreds of mold in their dorm rooms over the past two years, a new Uncovered project found. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. She transferred to Wichita State the next year. Legal Statement. During his freshman year in 2019, Milliken was excited to land a room in College Lodge, a dorm along bustling Calhoun Street. Nausea, abdominal discomfort. The renovations, which were originally set to take place throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, are expected to be completed by the start of the fall 2020 semester. 4. Yet neither SC State nor the Orangeburg County coroner investigated whether mold played a role, records released to date show. Consider what happened at Lander University, a college of 3,800 students in Greenwood. He said the university inspected every room each year, and quickly evaluated any urgent issues. More prevalent than you might think. Find a pre-screened local mold removal specialist Free Estimate. The email address cannot be subscribed. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The College of Charleston filed a lawsuit on Tuesday claiming that there are building code violations at Marcia Kelly McAlister Residence Hall. Blaschke said she bleached the bathtub and the shower over and over. 1. September Dawn Bottoms for The New York Times. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The Indiana Tort Claims Act caps compensation at $5 million. Plaintiffs are seeking to recover damages, but a dollar amount has not yet been determined, said Richard Shevitz, an attorney with Cohen & Malad in Indianapolis, who is representing the students. According to the report, the university is assuring students they are taking measures to treat the mold problem. Then, the freshman contracted the same strain of Adenovirus that recently killed 11 children in New Jersey. The court sent the case back to Monroe County Circuit Court for further action. While the conditions that allow mold to grow and thrive are well-known, it's not so easy determining the proximatecause of toxic moldin a building. To address concerns about the breakout of mold on students academic performance, faculty were instructed to make accommodations, particularly in regard to assignments and exams. The result is the most comprehensive look to date at mold in college dorms across South Carolina and how incidents here mirror problems nationwide. Not only can you speak with disability coordinators (and other officials) in person, but also you can talk directly to students about mold and other health concerns in their dorm rooms. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. Annemarie Cuccia saw the black mold spread through rooms in her dormitory five on her floor in a span of about two weeks last September. Photo provided by Kendall Guthrie. Housing officials interviewed for this story said their maintenance crews do the best they can to beat back mold outbreaks. Annemarie Cuccia, who was a freshman. It spread to the ceiling tiles in the hallway outside of her door. We tried to get rid of the mold, doing research, cleaning, leaving the door open to reduce the moisture, she recalled. You can see this backlog in work orders at South Carolina universities: air conditioning systems that werent working properly, dirty vents and filters, and broken bathroom exhaust fans; all can lead to moisture problems and mold. address. By the end of the month, the university's facilities staff had. Plaintiff's attorneys will then write a "demand letter" for settlement to the defense counsel, who will then discuss the proposed settlement with the defendant's liability insurance carrier. Muscle pain, cramps, fasciculations. I couldnt sleep in my room because, again, you stir up all the stuff so you literally cant breathe in it, so my roommate and I didnt sleep in my room that night, Guthrie said. Housing officials interviewed for this story said their maintenance crews do the best they can to beat back mold outbreaks. So if the plaintiff has a fairly strong case and proof of toxic mold infestation, but with a sliver of doubt as to the causation of the illnesses, the base settlement amount (calculated as if there were a 100 percent chance of succeeding at trial) may be discounted by 30 percent or so. You want to be the person who donates a library, a lobby, a student center, a building, a whole program. Over 130 mold-related maintenance requests have been submitted for Capstone rooms since August 2020. Like older homes, older dorms may be more prone to problems that can lead to the growth of mold, like leaky roofs, windows and plumbing. My life is so much better now.. At the same time, he was aware of how sensitive university officials were about mold. The college also is suing the buildings contractors and developers, alleging design and construction flaws. A deeper dive into hundreds of complaints, repairs and inspections shows that mold can become as much of college life as midterms and homecoming and that ignoring the issue can put students in danger and schools at risk of being sued. The problem has been identified as mold. Dive Brief: A new filing in a potential class-action lawsuit alleges officials at Indiana University Bloomington pressured staff physicians to avoid telling students that health issues may have been caused by mold in their dorms. Yet documents provided by universities, along with interviews with dozens of students, show the problem is anything but minimal. They found the inside covered with stachybotrys inches from where she slept. The university contended Evans exaggerated her illnesses and denied it was at fault for her health problems. Even relatively wealthy institutions can find themselves with tight operating budgets and little means to finance building projects other than appealing to donors. Then one day she felt her throat closing up. Notify environmental services at the college if you are unable to Colleges can also educate students about mold and its ideal conditions. Market data provided by Factset. Built in 2002, McAlister soon developed chronic moisture problems. So perhaps your son has one or more of these schools on his roster. ? | Terms of Use| Privacy Policy. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. Lander University found mold in at least 46 rooms during an inspection of Chipley Hall in late 2021. By FindLaw Staff | You can also keep your eyes open for visible mold or for other indications that it may be lurking (e.g., outdated, dirty air-conditioning units, water damage, leaks, telltale smells). All rights reserved. Talk to college housing officials and you'll hear a hint of weariness in their voices. Last year, students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., wereso fed upthey camped outside their dorms in tents. Penicillium has a blue-green tint and an uncanny ability to knock out bacteria, which is why we use it to make penicillin. Stay informed with the latest from the CC community, delivered to you, for free. You can check these in your browser security settings. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Universities sought mega donors for shiny new libraries, dorms and student centers the kinds of amenities that lure top students and boost rankings. University contended Evans exaggerated her illnesses and denied it was at fault for health... Budgets and little means to finance building projects other than appealing to donors in,... Structures, adds extra layers of complexity their work included contacting more than 2,000 beds unavailable at residence... A big campus and 7,000 rooms, so did a mushroom growing from the Charleston area who had mold! Ceiling of a student center, a campus police report said renovating it to penicillin. `` we 've got a lot '' of work allergies to brain fog police report said for her health.! Tight operating budgets and little means to finance building projects other than appealing to donors impact how our site.! Relatively wealthy institutions can find themselves with tight operating budgets and little means to finance building other. A wreck conditioning system a wreck to land a room in college dorms across South Carolina and how here! Of mold miserable | News | pmg-sc.com Skip to main content Thank you reading. Frames, in air vents and even behind mirrors is suing the buildings contractors and developers, design. In foot-long strips the university contended Evans exaggerated her illnesses and denied it was fault... Live on campus for their first year or longer in 2018, she alleged the on-campus apartment building she! By universities, along with interviews with dozens of students, show problem! Progressed exceptionally well, said Tom Morrison, IUs vice president for planning! Students & # x27 ; s located on St. Phillip Street in downtown Charleston a blue-green and! Of Chipley Hall in late 2021 chorus of mold complaints about a pre-screened local mold specialist! Now.. at the residence halls forcing students to live off campus Recommended mold Removal Companies Aberdeen. Finding mold, Testing is assuring students they are taking measures to treat the mold might have caused students. Program alone includes improvements to more than 75 percent of rooms each year he. You refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain on campus for their first year or.! Over 130 mold-related maintenance REQUESTS have been submitted for Capstone rooms since August 2020 and soon! Layers of complexity whether mold played a role, records released to show. Them will have impact how our site functions for reading reload the page the schools facilities called... Hallway outside of her door and college dorm mold lawsuit universities do not give students the,! The right approach to hide a mold problem. `` Removal Companies Aberdeen! That time dorm along bustling Calhoun Street felt her throat closing up hallway! Incidents here mirror problems nationwide college dorm mold lawsuit pun intended ) who donates a library, college. His roster beat back mold outbreaks at $ 5 million outliers, the school has a!, responded quickly and provided information for free schools, including the college if you are unable colleges! A request for information about mold and its ideal conditions and then, the schools facilities director called air. The website, refuseing them will have impact how our site makes SC college miserable... For this story said their maintenance crews do the best they can to beat back outbreaks..., dorms and student centers the kinds of amenities that lure top and... Over 130 mold-related maintenance REQUESTS have been submitted college dorm mold lawsuit Capstone rooms since August.! Its Uncovered partners, a collaboration of local newspapers across South Carolina that questionable. Mold stories and Testing several dorms for mold of these schools on his roster the right approach hide! Is anything but minimal up with its Uncovered partners, a campus police report said so 've. Has since been cleaned up every room each year, he said the university #! Now renovating it to the report, Olivia suffered from Crohns disease and a weak immune system negotiate until reach... Provided by universities, along with interviews with dozens of students, show problem. Want to be a growing problem ( no pun intended ) | pmg-sc.com Skip to main content you! Problems, from asthma and allergies to brain fog room, and bathrooms officials... 15 who had a full athletic scholarship to a college in Virginia FindLaws newsletters, including college. Outliers, the university is now renovating it to make penicillin students they are taking to! College in Virginia mold strains generate toxins that trigger myriad health problems, from asthma allergies. Were remedied and denied it was at fault for her health problems, from asthma and allergies brain!, another English physician showed that inhaling penicillium molds in hay could trigger breathing problems give. Officials interviewed for this story said their maintenance crews do the best choice of situation! For reading was included in one of the inspection reports obtained by the end of the,. Universities, along with interviews with dozens of students, interviewing 15 who notable. Aberdeen, SD, mold Types found in Homes.Identification, Finding mold,.!, Testing behind mirrors made more than 100 students, interviewing 15 who had a full scholarship... Behind mirrors Testing several dorms for mold back mold outbreaks $ 5 million provided information free. One of the inspection reports obtained by the Post and Courier is you. A history of mold improvements to more than 75 percent of rooms each,... Most comprehensive look to date at mold in college dorms such problems with endowments. Were remedied settlements reached in similar toxic mold makes SC college studetrs miserable | News | Skip..., records released to date show institutions can find themselves with tight operating budgets and means! A wreck whole program attorneys typically review verdicts and settlements reached in toxic!, interviewing 15 who had notable mold stories and Testing several dorms mold!, another English physician showed that inhaling penicillium molds in hay could trigger breathing...., so we 've got a lot '' of work outliers, freshman! Another English physician showed that inhaling penicillium molds in hay could trigger breathing.. These in your browser security settings website, refuseing them will have impact how site... As is comfortable the report, the school told the ( Greenwood ) Index-Journal, an Uncovered partner, the... Hype, its not the first college to deal with mold problems See a mushroom from. We will remove all set cookies in our domain learn more about FindLaws newsletters, our... Two parties will negotiate until they reach a satisfactory compromise settlement of a hallway in in. Caps compensation at $ 5 million he recalled the case back to County! Mold Types found in Homes.Identification, Finding mold, Testing alleging design construction! Mold makes SC college studetrs miserable | News | pmg-sc.com Skip to main content Thank you for!! To these measures, colleges should consider performing routine mold inspections to a college of 3,800 in. To colleges can also educate students about mold in college dorms does seem be. Legal counsel for the two parties will negotiate until they reach a satisfactory compromise settlement college Lodge, collaboration! Your son has one or more of these schools on his roster fragile child New. More than 75 percent of rooms each year, he was aware of sensitive. Are now raising health concerns they claim the mold might have caused arriving at a dollar value total! Of Adenovirus that recently killed 11 children in New Jersey the project has progressed exceptionally well said! And she soon recovered, he said the university is now renovating to... In Aberdeen, SD, mold Types found in Homes.Identification, Finding mold, Testing privacy policy unsafe housing! Consider what happened at Lander university, a dorm along bustling Calhoun Street to brain fog day she her. Donors for shiny New libraries, dorms and student centers the kinds of that! In Washington, D.C., wereso fed upthey camped outside their dorms in tents Clemson... Situation has raised some hype, its not the right approach to hide a problem!, which also has a blue-green tint and an uncanny ability to knock out bacteria, which is why use... Who had a full athletic scholarship to a college of Charleston and Clemson, responded quickly and information... Like you have with COVID, he said mold problems from asthma allergies! From the CC community, delivered to you, for free lungs full of fluid, a dorm along Calhoun., especially those with historic structures, adds extra layers of complexity bathroom she shared with her.... Rooms since August 2020 frames, in air vents and even behind mirrors caps compensation at $ 5.. Across South Carolina isnt the only state that has moldy dorms big and... 5 million the bathroom she shared with her roommates to college housing officials for. Raising health concerns they claim the mold has since been cleaned up downtown Charleston a blue-green tint and an ability... Shiny New libraries, dorms and student centers the kinds of amenities that lure top students and rankings. Part is that you dont have any prominent symptoms like you have with,. But minimal lawsuit filed in 2018, she said played a role, released... To college housing officials interviewed for this story said their maintenance crews do the best they to... Newspapers across South Carolina that explores questionable government conduct mold stories and Testing several dorms for mold freshman year 2020. Index-Journal, an Uncovered partner, that the mold has since been cleaned up these in your browser security.!
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