USD Requests Review Of Federal Response To Moldy Building
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — The University of South Dakota has asked the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review its response to complaints about mold in a campus building.
Noteboom Hall is a 70-year-old dormitory that has been converted to a speech therapy center. Former USD employee Nancy Andresen recently told the Argus Leader newspaper ( ) that working there gave her breathing problems, migraines and other health issues.
An analysis in 2013 concluded the Communications Sciences and Disorders Department should move out of Noteboom Hall. The college has unsuccessfully asked the Legislature for money to replace the building, USD spokeswoman Tena Haraldson said.
“We can’t move the entire department,” she said.
The school has installed humidifiers and air filters, moved offices and gotten rid of old fabric furniture in Noteboom. The school says air quality tests show improvements, but officials asked the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to evaluate the mitigation efforts in the wake of Andresen’s complaint.
“When someone raises a concern or makes a complaint, we address it,” Haraldson said. “We’ve been working on this for years.”
Institute officials will review the situation and determine if an onsite evaluation is needed, spokeswoman Stephanie Stevens said.
Andresen said she’s glad the school has reached out to federal officials but hopes they don’t rely too much on air-quality tests offered by the school.
Students have complained about mold in other campus buildings in recent years.
“We have a lot of old buildings. The university started in 1862,” Haraldson said. “Things have changed a lot. What we need to do now is figure out what stays, what goes and what gets moved.”
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Information from: Argus Leader,
