To the editor:
Re: "Violations 101," June 24.
I read Stanley Tromp's article with a certain sardonic pleasure. It gave the financial and organizational profile with succinct clarity. But there is also the human perspective.
I'd worked at Vancouver Community Collage's King Edward Campus as an instructor since before we moved to the building on Broadway in 1983. The whole campus--except the fifth floor where the administration offices are--is a sealed building, with no windows that open. Students, instructors and staff continually complained about the air quality on campus. Many claimed to suffer daily from headaches, dizziness and low energy. People had extended colds and other respiratory illnesses. The administration pretty well dismissed our concerns, even suggesting that the problems were psychological. We were also told that only a certain portion of the air was being recycled by the air conditioning system--for economic reasons.
My department, Basic Education, was on the second floor, right above the Diesel department. At times the diesel fumes were so bad, instructors had to let students take a break outside in the quadrangle just to get some fresh air. On rare occasions we let students go home. Because of the sealed building and no classroom door opening to the outdoors, it was difficult to let outside air in to clear the atmosphere inside. At the best of times, the air in our classrooms and offices was stale and low in oxygen. You had to go outside to get your senses back.
At the same time, fifth-floor administrators could open their windows if they felt like a blast of fresh air. We'd presented repeated requests, complaints and evidence about "sick building syndrome" to the administration and the college board. It all fell on deaf ears.
All the time we were told that the air had been tested by WCB, and that letting in fresh air was not feasible. I don't remember an administrator ever descending from the fifth floor to sniff the air students, instructors and staff had to breathe.
One has to wonder what the long-term health hazards of low oxygen levels, uncleaned air ducts, diesel fumes and carbon monoxide poisoning might be. We've had decades of it. I wonder especially since after I retired, our pension plan no longer pays for our health benefits. Could--should--there be a class action suit?
Michael Szasz,
Vancouver
