Asbestos in the library
No health hazards expected
Darren LaCour
Opinions & Editorials Editor
Erika Breese
Xavier officials are being extremely cautious with the library’s asbestos.
Students who frequent the McDonald Memorial library have already been surprised by the renovations on the first floor, but they will be even more surprised starting Wednesday as the asbestos-containing floor tiles and adhesive holding down the tiles are removed.
Asbestos, a mineral fiber that was very commonly used in building materials prior to 1980, can be hazardous once it becomes airborne and is inhaled.
Although there are no immediate symptoms of asbestos poisoning, long-term effects can include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
There are different classifications of asbestos risk, based on the friability of the asbestos. Friable situations, where the asbestos is crumbling, are the highest risk situations.
In the McDonald library, the asbestos is non-friable, and the tiles are in good condition, posing little threat to the patrons of the building.
Though it is a low-risk situation, Xavier and the outside contractor, Central Insulation Systems, under the supervision of Jim Bergen, Project Manager for Physical Plant, are treating the situation as a high-risk one to protect the health of people using the library.
The affected area will be enclosed in a bubble to prevent asbestos fibers from entering the main air supply in the building, and the air in the bubble will be constantly monitored and vacuumed. All removed materials will be sealed in air-tight containers.
The air circulation on the first floor will be shut off, and the vents will be sealed. Fortunately for students hard at work on the other two floors, their air conditioning is controlled separately, so the rest of the building will have ventilation.
Physical Plant has removed asbestos from tiling in many buildings at Xavier in the past, such as Brockman Hall, but usually this takes place when the buildings are closed. The removal in McDonald Library marks the first time in Xavier history where this procedure is performed while the building is in use.
To ensure the functionality of the library, the circulation desk will be moved up to the second floor, and the front entrance and stairwell will remain open.
Because the University did not announce these plans until the Sept. 11, the day before the removal was scheduled to begin, many students felt the University was being clandestine about the procedure.
Bob Cotter, Associate Vice President for Information Resources, said, “We’ve gone to great pains to put informative information about the procedure out there, because we want people to know about it,” he said. “We could just be removing the tiles and hiding the fact that there is asbestos, but we want to be honest.”
The University, also checked with other institutions who have undergone similar procedures in their buildings to check and make sure there weren’t any problems.
“Part of the reason it took so long was that we wanted to give the most accurate information,” said Cotter. “We needed to make sure all the plans were finalized, and this removal only came up as part of the project in the past few weeks.”
Coulter visit passes without incident
Matthew Finger
Managing Editor
Erika Breese
Ann Coulter’s highly anticipated speech at Xavier was attended by a rather well-behaved crowd at Cintas Center.
After several weeks of petition and public forum, the Xavier College Republicans successfully hosted controversial author Ann Coulter at Cintas Center last Thursday night. The evening went off without a hitch, though a sizeable number in the Xavier community were vocal in expressing their opposition to bringing the ultra-conservative Coulter to Xavier.
More than 1,200 spectators filed into Cintas Center to attend Ann Coulter’s speech on current political issues. Coulter, who cost roughly $25,000, delivered a 30 minute lecture, which covered many of today’s pressing national concerns, and ended with a series of questions and answers.
The evening began with Xavier University College Republicans’ treasurer David Dury who, in light of concerns, encouraged the crowd not to “heckle the speaker,” and noted that disruptors would be removed. According to the College Republicans, no incidents occurred, with the exception of one person in the audience holding a sign who was asked to take it down and complied.
Coulter brushed on topics ranging from the recent scandal involving Idaho Senator Larry Craig, to presidential candidate Barack Obama (who she referred to as Hussein Obama), to Democrats’ calls to end the war in Iraq and even religion.
During her question and answer series, Coulter found herself peppered with questions regarding her own faith, a combination of Catholic and protestant upbringings, her positions on Iraq, foreign policy, school vouchers and health care.
Coulter was asked what advice she has for young Republican women. She replied by saying that it is often difficult to survive in a liberal academic setting, but added that if they have to, young conservative students should write the papers that professors want, encouraging them to “get good grades and then conquer the world.”
Coulter’s rebuttals to tough questions from both liberal and conservative audience members were impressive. She showed composure and a good understanding of most issues brought to the table.
The noticeably bi-partisan crowd showed remarkable poise during the evening, frequently clapping in support of Coulter, with the occasional (and expected boos) from those opposed to her positions.
Coulter herself commended Xavier publicly during her lecture for the self-control and maturity that the student body had displayed in her presence. Comparing Xavier to Harvard and other Ivy League schools, she noted the respect which the campus and audience presented.
She was not the only one appreciative of the level of general tranquility displayed by the campus. “As a group we’re really glad that all view points were able to be expressed,” said Dury, who added thanks to the Xavier population for allowing the event to happen.
The entire evening, which was roughly 18 months in the making, cost the College Republicans nearly $25,000. Much of that was attainted through private donors, as well as grants from the Ohio College Republicans Federation and the Young American’s Foundation, the organization through which Coulter speaks. The Xavier College Republicans have also worked concession stands for the Cincinnati Reds’ home games for the past two summers in order to raise funds.
Overall the evening was categorized as a success, with virtually no incidents reported and every point of view expressed, although not all present enjoyed the presentation.
Bill Gorman, Xavier class of 2008, was not impressed by Coulters rhetoric, which he believed implied that he is “an American hating atheist,” and a “Marxist” for listening to his “Marxist professors.”
Not everyone walked always disappointed. Mary J. Long, Xavier class of 1981, enjoyed Coulter’s lecture, saying “I thought she was outstanding. But then again, she always is.”
Dr. Luther Smith, the Dean of Students at Xavier, found the evening to be anti-climactic, but remarked that “dialogue that will follow this will be good.” He also added that allowing every voice to be heard and the entire processes is “so important, especially in a Jesuit institution.”
Off-campus crackdown
Several students reprimanded over parties
Patrick Stevenson
Editor-in-Chief
On Thursday, Sept. 6, Chief Michael Couch of Campus Police and Dr. Luther Smith, Dean of Students, visited several off-campus houses and threatened students with criminal prosecution for alcohol-related violations.
Chris Caldwell, a resident of 1421 Dana Ave., one of the houses that was reprimanded, said that Couch and Smith “pounded on the door, demanded everyone’s name and age and said they had received complaints about activities at the house.”
Caldwell said the particular event that drew the university’s ire was a Slip’n’Slide party they held on the afternoon of freshmen move-in day.
“There were ten people over the age of 21 outside drinking beer and going down the Slip’n’slide,” said Caldwell. “We thought it was innocent enough, but I guess they didn’t think so.”
Couch said the houses that were reprimanded on Sept. 6 were part of a standard, routine disciplinary procedure where university officials inform off-campus students of complaints received from their neighbors.
“We try to make students understand how to throw parties more responsibly,” said Couch. “We don’t tell them not to have parties, but we do want to avoid things like underage drinking, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.”
Still, several students seemed upset at how Smith and Couch handled the situation. “I completely understand where they are coming from, but I feel like they came after us over nothing,” said Jeff Kersher, another student who was reprimanded. “I was taken aback by the way they handled it.”
Caldwell had similar feelings. “I was a little stunned at the aggressiveness displayed by [Couch and Smith]. I wasn’t sure what they were accusing our house of,” said Caldwell. “At one point, they compared our house to ‘Animal House,’ which was insulting. I was a little disappointed in their lack of professionalism. I did not like being treated like a child.”
Caldwell thinks that part of the reason Smith and Couch were so upset was because the event in question occurred on freshmen move-in day. “I got the feeling that they want us to misrepresent student life. This is a college, not a seminary,” said Caldwell.
Couch stated that the university had received complaints from “neighbors, university staff and community leaders” about the houses they reprimanded.
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