There are some things people consider privilege, and some things people consider a right. While air conditioning systems are definitely not a right, I believe the line is drawn very crudely when it comes to this issue in LMU dorms. If you’re a freshman, I’m sure you’ve already discovered that there is no artificial form of air ventilation in your dorm rooms. Your only option will have to be a fan, or multiple fans, as it is much needed. The rules here don’t even let us bring in our own separate, portable A/C unit. I’m guessing it’s for fire safety, but at least that compromise should be enough.
In their defense, LMU has a lot to offer. The tuition might be expensive, but it gets put to decent use. The new Life Science building is beautiful, and the new Roski’s is so much better. One thing that confuses me is why our school has never thought of giving us the privilege of controlling the temperature in our own rooms. With the mass amount of tuition money that is going into the school every year, the increasing applicant rate, and changing times, both economically and electronically, A/C systems should be implemented in LMU dorms.
It’s a simple way to keep students happy and cool during the hot months, which in Los Angeles, is every month except for February and March. April through February is another story. Here on the bluff, temperatures during the day start at around 60 degrees in the morning, rise to 95 in the afternoon, and settle at a cool 72 at night. These rapid changing temperatures, I believe, should constitute us having A/C systems.
To be fair, I understand our school is very “green” and supports recycling and energy/water conservation, but there are trade offs to everything. I’m sure I speak for more people than myself when I say, because there is no A/C unit in my room, I have to take more showers because of how much I sweat. Move-in day required at least three showers, which cannot be beneficial when it comes to conserving water, but was necessary at the time.
Also, with the amount of fans that most students have plugged into their rooms, I'm sure there isn't much energy being saved. The energy is simply wasted on these fans, which only move around the hot, stale air. Conserving our water and electricity must be considered along with student happiness and satisfaction of the facilities. Every summer gets hotter and hotter, and at some point, the students aren’t going to take the heat in their rooms much longer.
If anyone has an answer to why there is no A/C in the dorms, let me know. I’ll just be here sweating in the meantime.
