The Daily Tar Heel
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The Daily Tar Heel

Take a chill pill: Classrooms are cold for a reason. Stop complaining.

Every morning before walking to class in the heat and heavy humidity don't forget to bring a sweater.

That's right.

It's summertime in North Carolina and if you're headed to class you shouldn't leave the house without your warmest cardigan.

The classrooms are cold but we just need to deal with it.

It's true that air conditioning is the greatest thing to happen to the South since sweet tea on ice but at first glance it doesn't seem to make sense that the University's buildings would be so excessive with the air conditioning.

But Facilities Services provides good reasons for keeping the classrooms cold.

Van Dobson assistant vice chancellor for facilities services said the cool air helps keep the classrooms from building up humidity that causes mold.

As we all know some of the buildings on campus are quite old and therefore even more vulnerable to mold. 

Also classrooms must be kept even cooler than the administrative office buildings. The masses of sweaty bodies moving in and out of classrooms all day makes it easier for humidity to build up and mold to spread.

It's true that it can be uncomfortable having the sweat beads on your arm start to frost within minutes of arriving to class.

But it's better for us to pack some extra clothing layers than to watch some of our historic buildings become covered in fungus.

It's better to breath in really cold air than moldy air.

And for those who complain about the money the University is wasting on the cold air: Think of how much more it would cost to repair mold damage.

So while we hate the frigid temperatures too give the complaints a rest. That cold air is saving the University money.

If anything at least you finally have an excuse to bring a blanket to an early morning lecture.


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