As you’ve probably noticed, a main staircase in Lerner has been broken since last week, making the irritating trek from the ground floor to the package center a nauseating ramp-circling odyssey. We thought that the stairs might only be closed for a day or two, but now that the repairs are stretching into their second week, we’re forced to ponder the deeper implications of this bizarre facilities maintenance. What’s the deal, Columbia? Is it just about to collapse?

No stairs for you.

Those strolling across College Walk a moment a go saw a glimmer of Winter’s glow. Facilities is testing the lights in preparation for the annual tree lighting ceremony. Daylight hours may be waning, but at least we’re getting prepared to fight the night.

A twinkle betwixt the branches

Students assembling for the 2 pm OWS march to Union Square are playing a variety of instruments, some more conventional than others. They are also giving away free food.

A veritable jamboree

Hot on the heels of Housing entering rooms in EC, Harmony, Shapiro and 47 Claremont, Carman residents just received an email on “the intermittent heating concerns.” According to Carman dwellers, heating noises and inconsistent temperature have been problems for weeks now. The long and short of the email is that Facilities will “conduct an inspection of each individual fan coil unit” which means entering individual rooms. Be wise, and put things in drawers. Full email below.

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Photo by ESN

Bwog’s Airborne Contaminants Team has finally confirmed, after days of close analysis, that the sign posted on the Wien bulletin board earlier this week does indeed contain the word “asbestos.” We’re all gonna die!

Well, maybe only those of us who like to hang out anywhere that smells of the good ol’ John Jay garbage chute. Though the sign says that floors 3-9 will be affected, close inspection of another sign (with much smaller print) reveals that construction on floors 3-8 will be limited to trash rooms, where some asbestos-laden pipe insulation will be replaced.

On floor 9, residents might be a little freaked by the plastic covering the carpet from the staircase to the south end of the hallway. The construction crew, which is set to start work tomorrow, will be removing “350 feet of vinyl asbestos tile” from rooms 938 and 940.

You may be coming home to a freshly “inspected” room,  but just think – it could be worse. Instead of stealing your alcohol, Columbia could have stolen your dearly loved asbestos tile floor. Never leave your valuables behind, kids. 

For those of you staying in East Campus or McBain over break, Columbia University Facilities will be using the time to fix your residence. In McBain, elevator repairs will mean that both elevators will be out on Monday, December 29th.

In EC, the story’s slightly less chipper, and quite a bit longer. Facilites “has identified significant deterioration to the plumbing lines for the sink and washing machines in the East Campus laundry room,” and so “the East Campus laundry room will need to close during the upcoming weeks.” The work could take all of Winter Break.

This seems like an appropriate time, then, to remind everyone sticking around in EC over break that there is a tunnel in the basement to Wien, the closest building with a laundry room. Thank us later.