Indiana University RAs Warn New Students of Asbestos

August 23, 2006 - In a scripted presentation that Indiana University resident assistants will read to new students entering the college’s dormitories, incoming freshmen and transfer students will learn that they are living with asbestos.

The Indiana Daily Student newspaper reports that, under a new Residential Programs and Services policy, staff members will give students warnings about the potential carcinogen in their dorm rooms and apartments. 

RAs will read the script to the new students in the Briscoe, McNutt and Forest buildings, stressing that the asbestos found in the plaster there is of the least hazardous of the three varieties and that the plaster only contains 1% to 10% asbestos.  Students living in the Tulip Tree Apartments, including many foreign students who don’t understand spoken English well, will receive the warning in writing.

Students will be told that there is no immediate danger unless their dormitory ceilings are damaged for some reason.  At that point, they are to immediately report damage to a staff member. 

In previous years, says Residential Programs and Services Executive Director Pat Connor, the asbestos warning was buried in a handbook that was distributed to all students but rarely read in its entirety by students or parents.  However, the school paper wrote a series of articles about the asbestos problem last year, prompting additional concerns.

“After the issues raised last year and after talking with different people, we felt it was in the best interest of everyone if we took extra step of talking to students," Connor said.

The article adds that “physical plant employees specially trained in asbestos management will conduct inspections of the four residence halls at the semester break and during the summer.”