At William Paterson University, art majors face more than just creative pressure this semester as stifling classroom temperatures become a serious health concern. Despite student complaints, the university has yet to take action.
Most students don’t know where the Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts is located unless they are athletes or art majors. This lack of visibility is part of the problem, if the rest of the campus doesn’t see the conditions, they have no reason to care.
Inside the building, the conditions are deteriorating. Floors are rarely cleaned, except for the first-floor galleries used for public events. The most pressing issue, however, is the heat. Earlier this semester, the heating was so intense that students opened windows while it was 20 degrees outside, yet classrooms remained suffocating.
These conditions are a legitimate health hazard for those spending long hours in the building. Between grueling class periods and minimal breaks, students run the risk of passing out. Furthermore, sweaty hands pose a safety risk when handling sharp carving tools, especially since first aid kits are not clearly visible.
While rumors circulate that the university promises to fix the HVAC system, no progress has been made. For students like me who spend upwards of 13 hours a day in the building, the heat is exhausting, especially if we aren’t prepared with extra water or a change of clothes.
The university shouldn’t expect us to simply “get used to” it. Classrooms should be environments for focus and creativity, not places where students sweat profusely. This might feel like an unavoidable campus-wide issue if the university weren’t simultaneously spending $4.3 million to renovate the Atrium, a building that already has working climate control and lower foot traffic. It raises the question, does this school truly value its art students?
The physical discomfort is only part of the burden. Art majors already pay an $80 studio fee per class, which often covers very little. In my 3D Design class, that fee only provides a matte knife and printer access. When you add the $100 to $200 spent out of pocket for paper, rulers and pencils, the cost of an education becomes a financial strain.
Logistics add a final layer of exhaustion. Lot 2, the only parking area near Ben Shahn, fills up almost instantly. This forces students to park in Lot 5 and trek across campus, through the student center and science building, while lugging heavy supplies.
The common perception is that art majors “doodle” all day, but the reality is much more demanding. We are carrying heavy equipment across campus, paying high out-of-pocket costs and working for hours in dangerously hot rooms.
