Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
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Adjusting to college life is difficult for most, if not all students. The
varieties of changes to which a student must adapt are endless. Above all, a
student must strive to obtain the best education possible. This inherent goal is
arguably the hardest to actually obtain. Every facet of a student's life seems to
hinder him in his pursuit of academic excellence. One of the biggest challenges
for many a student is life within the dorm. This change of lifestyle frequently
proves the most different in comparison with what he had grown accustomed.
From taking care of his own laundry to dealing with a new roommate, the
contrast is inevitably a sharp one. As with anything, the experience is unique to
the individual, however, in most respects I would consider adjusting to life at
Iowa State University typical of the college–age student.
Iowa State is not a prototype though. The university deviates from the
norm in that it provides a student with yet an additional hindrance that prevents
him from ultimately obtaining erudition. In fact, this threat is so profound that it
looms literally right in front of every student's eyes, yet goes unnoticed. The
impedance to which I refer is the dilapidated state of air quality in Iowa State
University's dormitories. By any measure, the quality of air within the residence
halls is subpar; however, the issue in question is actually how and why the air is
as poor as it is? Consequently, I propose that the Iowa State Residence Hall
Associations take steps to improve the quality of air within the individual
residence halls.
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
2
To consider this a legitimate proposal it is important to understand the
first–hand experience on which it is based. As a first year student at Iowa State
University I was assigned to live in the Larch Hall Residence. My concerns stem
in base from the conditions found here, though it should be noted that many of
my fellow students have echoed my concern about their own respective living
quarters. Another consideration pertains specifically to the type of students
found populating the dormitories. Most will fit into one or more of the following
categories: freshman, sophomore, transfer or out-of-state student. Therefore, like
myself, they tend to represent the "new" student faction at Iowa State University.
As with any real problem, there is never one clear and definitive cause.
When looking at air, there are wide ranges of factors that contribute to its overall
quality, ranging from carbon dioxide content to presence of biological
contaminants. Compounding this issue is the fact that there is no set standard for
evaluating the general air quality. Governmental organizations such as the
Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) have put forward suggested
factors to be monitored, however with minimal success. In the instance of the
Iowa State dormitories, the focus is largely on the airborne particle content of the
air. Though other factors likely contribute to the state of the air, particles seem to
be the most outstanding concern.
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
Almost immediately after moving into the dormitory, I noticed that the
frequency at which I was dusting throughout my room was alarmingly high.
Wondering how so much dust could collect in such short spans of time, I
resolved to look into the issue. After a small amount of research it came to my
attention that the cause of the dust problems could largely be traced to poorly
maintained air ducts and radiators.
In the course of my research, I learned that indoor air quality control has
increasingly become a significant issue in building construction and
maintenance. There are a number of reasons reported by Purdy's Wharf
(www.purdyswharf.com) that account for this growing need to monitor the air.
These reasons focus largely on the need to promote energy efficiency, while in
part sacrificing the overall quality of air indoors. Increasing oil prices have lead
to stricter building design policies focused on conserving energy and synthetic
organic compounds, for efficiency purposes, have replaced natural building
materials. Some of the other notable factors include increased thermal output
from electronics equipment, as well as inadequately maintained ventilation
systems. In Iowa State's instance, the most probable cause for concern likely
stems from the last possibility.
Consider: the population of the Iowa State dormitories, in being "new",
houses students who are inherently facing the biggest changes in lifestyles.
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Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
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Consequently, these are also the students being subjected to the highest levels of
stress as a result of their day to day living. Unfortunately for them, stress is one
of many things instigated by poor air quality. In addition, lacking air quality also
has a direct correlation with an increase of illness. Any person who is subject to
allergies would find these to be heightened as well. The appearance of these
symptoms as a result of being a certain building are commonly referred to as
Building Related Illness (BRI). Ironically, the group that most needs to stay
healthy (i.e. the "new" students) is the group being subjected to these poor
conditions.
Because of the situation, Iowa State's students are faced with a choice that
is inevitably a losing one. Their options are either to take on the daunting and
involved task of cleaning their own air duct system, or as most students do, to
just put up with the unfortunate situation. One other possibility, and the one that
I have chosen, is to stop using the system entirely. Because the radiator emits
such a noxious barrage of particles, I have taken to shutting off the system,
regardless of the weather outside. Needless to say, this is an equally bad solution
to the issue. Regardless of what a student chooses, this situation provides yet
another concern for the Iowa State students that they could likely do without.
Simply put, my solution to Iowa State's problem entails a thorough
cleaning of the residence halls' air duct systems, and a more proactive method of
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
5
maintaining a high level of air quality. Granted, this would not solve the problem
in its entirely, however it would be taking some very important first steps
towards cleaner air. Initially after cleaning, there would be a sharp increase in the
air quality throughout the building, most importantly in the individual dorm
rooms. As a result, the overall health of the residence halls' occupants would
increase significantly. Specifically, there would be fewer occurrences of ill
students, a marked reduction in stress levels of students, and those with allergies
would experience significantly less irritation.
It is not difficult to see how a healthier student body would benefit both
the school and the individual. With reduced sickness, less would be spent on
student health care. Additionally, with a decrease in a need for sick days, there
would be an increase in class attendance, and consequently an increase in grades.
Moreover, students likely would not find it necessary to dust their rooms three
times a week in a vain attempt to keep them relatively dust free. Another benefit
that would result from cleaner ducts would be increased fire safety for the
buildings. In any fire, a poorly maintained duct system provides a devastatingly
quick method for the blaze to spread. With cleaner ducts, this threat would also
be significantly reduced.
After making a number of inquiries into when, if ever, the Larch Hall
ducts had been cleaned I found that none of the resident administration was
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
6
aware of the University's policies in the matter. Regardless, it is my belief that
this issue should be dealt with immediately. However, to properly address these
concerns, a number of things must first be considered. These include who is
responsible to see that it is done, who actually cleans the ducts, when it will be
done, and the cost incurred by the introduction of these policies.
As far as responsibility is concerned, I feel that it should be undertaken by
each individual Residence Hall Association. This would allow each system of
ducts to be address more individually as they pertain to each association's
buildings. In addition, each association should set forward a set schedule of duct
cleaning. On average, I would recommend that they be cleaned in a three to six
year rotation. I would undoubtedly suggest that an accredited professional
company do it. It is not at all uncommon to find that commercial or industrial
building duct cleaners have also undertaken the cleaning of various university
facilities, including dormitories. This should, however, still remain under the
supervision of the Residence Hall Associations to ensure that it is done in
accordance with all Iowa State University policies. It seems that the best time for
the duct system to be cleaned would be when the buildings are least in use:
during the summer term. While this would not immediately help the situation as
it stands now, there will be an improvement for those who will be attending the
school in the near. If time allows, the cleaning could even be done between fall
and spring semesters.
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
7
The last, and probably most important concern, is the cost incurred by the
institution of this new policy. While it would be impossible to determine an exact
value for having the ducts cleaned without an actual estimate being done, it is
possible to get a rough idea of the cost to the student. In residential homes, a
good estimate for the cost of having the ducts cleaned can be found by
determining the area of the house, and finding that it costs 5 –20 cents per square
foot. Considering that this is for a residence, it would probably cost more to clean
a large apartment style building because of the larger ducts, and more powerful
cleaning tools that would be required. Consequently, I would put the estimation
at 25–50 cents per square foot. At this rate, and average 10x14 dorm room would
incur the cost of $35–$70 every five years. Therefore, assuming double
occupancy, each individual would likely be asked to contribute an additional
$3.50–$7 per year. While I understand this is just another expense that university
students may feel is being tacked on; the results it would produce would be real.
If you could prevent yourself from being bogged down with a preventable illness
for less than $7, certainly it would be worth your while. In fact, it's probably even
cheaper than getting a flu shot.
If only to improve our own individual performance and state of living, we
should consider the institution of these policies here at Iowa State University.
Having spent my entire childhood in Pittsburgh, which is historically home to
Dan Zelik
Proposal Argument - Dr. Ewald - Engl 105H
8
some of the country's worst air, it is ironic that I should long for the few precious
breaths of fresh air it allotted to me, over that of comparatively pollution free
Iowa. Certainly the need for immediate action is clear, if not the air we breathe.