 Kingston students are forced to work in hot and stifling conditions in the lead up to exams, after the university fails to fix its heating system.
Six months after RiverOnline’s ‘Hot University’ story, outlining the constant heat in the John Galsworthy Building and the Library, temperature levels remain too high, despite assurances from the university that the problem would be rectified.
In the lead up to end-of-year exams, students have complained that the conditions are unbearable to work in, made worse by the recent bout of hot weather. The University’s heating system is due to stay on until the fixed turn-off date on May 11.
Second year Nutrition student, Zeinab Al-maajoui, said: “I come into the library for about four hours a day to use the computers but I find it so hot to work in. Because I am a Muslim I have to cover up all the time and I worry because the heat makes me sweat a lot. I try to choose a seat by the window but even then it still affects my work.”
MA Construction Management student, Cherrit Mathachen, said he goes to the library on average eight hours a day, on top of lectures, “It needs to be cooler in here. Sometimes I feel suffocated and I can’t concentrate on my studies, on a hot day it’s sweltering.”
Library staff would not comment on the hot conditions, but admitted that results from a recent library performance survey, handed out to students last week, revealed that heating had been the biggest concern.
Statistics show that hot temperatures affect concentration, add to dehydration and create tiredness which could affect students ability to work by up to 50%.
But lecturers are also affected by the heat as James Morrison, Kingston University Journalism lecturer, said of the John Galsworthy building: “Students have often commented that they feel near to passing out, and conditions are equally uncomfortable for lecturers. The lack of any temperature controls in the new rooms themselves is hugely frustrating, as it means that every time we are too hot the only option is to contact KUSCO. Invariably, the temperature never gets sorted out to anyone's satisfaction within the space of a single session. I've complained about this on and off all year round, yet here we are with barely a fortnight of lectures to go still sweating buckets in a ridiculously over-heated room.'
KUSCO, the university’s facilities management company, is currently “in the process of reviewing our building management systems to make them more efficient” according to Deirdre Ferrier, Communications Officer of Property Management and Development at the University. She added that measures to improve the problem were “being worked on” including: introducing temperature sensors and automatic controls in the John Galsworthy Building and the Library, to create a more comfortable climate and to help save energy. Although no date was put on completion, work will take place in the summer.
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