NEWS

Icy faculty meeting heats up

by Abby Person

College faculty members were frozen to their chairs at Tuesday's faculty meeting over a motion for a holiday shutdown of the central heating system.

During the 45 minute thaw, the faculty bickered with the executive and associate directors of facilities operations Michael Will and Kevin Jacobs about the proposed shutdown. After this discussion, College President Nancy Dye delivered a report on need-sensitive admissions.

The move to shut down the central heating is part of an attempt to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the physical plant. Will and Jacobs asked for faculty support in the heating shutdown. They didn't appear to get it.

Professor of Economics Robert Piron asked for a figure on the per-degree savings a shutdown would yield. Will and Jacobs did not have a precise answer, but they said in a best case scenario, a central heating shut down from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 could save the college $20,000.

"To put this into context, I have asked our facilities managers throughout the plant to make our operations considerably more efficient. Over the next five years we hope to save over $1 million. These savings are very real and none of it involves heavy duty sacrifice and erosion of the quality of life," Dye said.

Despite the rationale presented, many faculty members were concerned and a few were downright angry. The use of offices over the winter break became the primary focus of the discussion.

Will and Jacobs hoped to divide the campus buildings into three categories: those that were still in use, occasionally in use or not in use. The buildings still in use would be kept at a temperature around 70 degrees, but those with intermittent or no use would be kept around 45 to 50 degrees when not in use.

Professor of Philosophy Mike McInerney said, "A lot of faculty use their offices. Where do we send our complaints?"

Professor of Classics James Helm asked the Dean of the College whether the due date for grade reports would be extended.

"The due date is still set for Jan. 4. You still have to write comments even if your hands are blue," Dean of the college Clayton Koppes said.

After more discussion, Dye seemed visibly annoyed. "Having lived through the shutdowns at two previous institutions, it is an adjustment. It is not uncommon for institutions to shut down for a three-week period."

Earlier in the debate Vice President for Finance Andy Evans rather facetiously said, "I'm getting the feeling we're not buying into energy conservation."

Jacobs said space heaters will be available for anyone who wants one. This did not appease some of the dissenters. "I use my office a lot during that week. I will not be happy if I'm cold - even with a heater," Professor of Economics David Cleeton said.

Some of the faculty concerns were more pragmatic. Professor of Chemistry Norman Craig was worried about sensitive scientific instrumentation that might be adversely effected if Kettering heating were tuned off. "There is plenty of scientific instrumentation that will take a beating if the temperature is lowered," Craig said.

The Conservatory has already said it must maintain its current temperature because of its instruments.

Will and Jacobs welcomed the input saying they would be consulting building representatives for break scheduling. The lowest temperature of 45 degrees would only be reached, Jacobs said, if the weather is especially cold.

"My reading of the Finney Compact would now suggest that we all now pray for warm weather," Professor of History Gary Kornblith said.

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Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 11, December 4, 1998

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