U.'s response to heat wave just a lot of hot air

As yesterday's high temperature approached 86 degrees, Registrar's Office employee Donna Oberthaler learned what blowing hot air really means. With most University administra - tive and residential buildings not due to receive air conditioning until at least April 15, Oberthaler and thousands of others on campus & have been forced to cope with the heat. Some have sought relief by open - ing windows, turning on fans or tak - ing cold showers. And many have simply headed outside. But for Oberthaler, who said the windows in her Franklin Building office do not open, a breeze of hot air pumped from outside and then circulated throughout the building has been the extent of her heat relief. "There's some hot air blowing ar - ound, but there certainly isn't any air conditioning," she said. "I can vouch for that." College sophomore David Hur - tado, who lives in High Rise North, said he is "burning up" in the heat, despite using a fan and taking a shower several times a day. But not everyone is struggling to endure the discomfort. Physical Plant official Lou Visco said yesterday that several Univer - sity buildings, including those used for medical research and veterinary studies, are equipped throughout & the year with both heating and cool - ing systems. He added that the Uni - versity is currently in the process of resuming air conditioning to other buildings, including the high rises. Visco explained the University & traditionally waits until April 15 to begin providing most of its build - ings with air conditioning because of unpredictable spring weather. He said in order to supply the air conditioning, the University's five chiller plants must first send the cold water through underground & pipes. For buildings which do not use the chiller plants, the first step is to fill their individual cooling un - its with cold water. Either situation is dangerous, ac - cording to Visco, because if freezing weather suddenly replaces the war - mer weather, pipes could burst and significantly delay air conditioning service. Visco also said many buildings use the same pipes for both hot and cold water. If temperatures were to fall, the University could not easily drain the pipes and resume heat - ing, he said. Visco, who said he has a copy of the weather forecast for the next five days sitting on his desk, empha - sized that he would prefer that the University community not have to endure the heat. "We're stuck between a rock and a hard place," he said.

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