2008 Woodie Awards
Stench plagues Crooker
Rachel Castillo
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Other News
Although Crooker Center houses UST's dining hall and the offices of student-run organizations, a certain smell is keeping some students away.
"It forces everyone away from the place that is supposed to be our place to go to after classes," said Meghan Castillo, senior psychology major. "When I go in, I walk back out."
UST junior Belma Trevizo has worked for three years in the Office of Volunteer Opportunities, and said she first noticed the smell two years ago.
"We have become more aware of it because it's not just sometimes; it's often," Trevizo said. "The smell is super strong some days, and on those days, it smells like a septic tank."
Freshman Andrea Gonzalez works in assistant director Angie Montelongo's office. "I've been tempted to bring candles or air freshener with me to work," Gonzalez said.
The scent causes some students to think twice about eating in the dining hall. "It makes you lose your appetite," said Brittany Platt, sophomore psychology major.
Students who cannot eat in the dining hall, take their food to their rooms, outside or another building.
Students are not the only ones who have noticed the smell; the University's faculty and staff also work and eat in the building. From time to time, the building's occupants have made complaints about the smell, said Howard Rose, assistant vice president of facilities operations.
Many visitors come to the campus, including elementary school children, prospective students, parents and, recently, the new cardinal the Rev. Daniel DiNardo. The Ahern room inside Crooker holds lectures that also bring in outsiders, whose only impression of the University is the building.
Trevizo said that she remembered when visitors from Ireland were touring the campus and came into OVO, she had to lie to the visitors when they asked her if it always smelled.
UST's campus has had some beautification changes with the adding of cobblestone crosswalks and fountains. The University is spending too much money on other things that can wait, said Trevizo.
Rose said that, each time facilities look into the situation, they think they find the problem, but the source of the smell is unknown. "It's difficult to find," said Rose. "I don't know where it's coming from."
"It forces everyone away from the place that is supposed to be our place to go to after classes," said Meghan Castillo, senior psychology major. "When I go in, I walk back out."
UST junior Belma Trevizo has worked for three years in the Office of Volunteer Opportunities, and said she first noticed the smell two years ago.
"We have become more aware of it because it's not just sometimes; it's often," Trevizo said. "The smell is super strong some days, and on those days, it smells like a septic tank."
Freshman Andrea Gonzalez works in assistant director Angie Montelongo's office. "I've been tempted to bring candles or air freshener with me to work," Gonzalez said.
The scent causes some students to think twice about eating in the dining hall. "It makes you lose your appetite," said Brittany Platt, sophomore psychology major.
Students who cannot eat in the dining hall, take their food to their rooms, outside or another building.
Students are not the only ones who have noticed the smell; the University's faculty and staff also work and eat in the building. From time to time, the building's occupants have made complaints about the smell, said Howard Rose, assistant vice president of facilities operations.
Many visitors come to the campus, including elementary school children, prospective students, parents and, recently, the new cardinal the Rev. Daniel DiNardo. The Ahern room inside Crooker holds lectures that also bring in outsiders, whose only impression of the University is the building.
Trevizo said that she remembered when visitors from Ireland were touring the campus and came into OVO, she had to lie to the visitors when they asked her if it always smelled.
UST's campus has had some beautification changes with the adding of cobblestone crosswalks and fountains. The University is spending too much money on other things that can wait, said Trevizo.
Rose said that, each time facilities look into the situation, they think they find the problem, but the source of the smell is unknown. "It's difficult to find," said Rose. "I don't know where it's coming from."