Morality versus liability

Asbestos envelops every room in Tulip Tree Apartments and Forest, McNutt and Briscoe Quads. The potential consequences of this are mind-blowing.\nA little bit of background information about asbestos: It's an insulation material that was commonly used in building construction before 1980 (before its carcinogenic characteristics were known). Asbestos itself is not dangerous. The danger develops when the asbestos is damaged, which can occur through water leakages or naïve students who poke pencils into the ceiling from the top bunk of their bed out of sheer boredom. Inhaling damaged asbestos fibers can cause lung damage. \nThe only way to permanently remove this harmful insulation is to renovate the dorms, which would cost approximately $10 million ("Damaged asbestos likely in 4 dorms," Indiana Daily Student, Monday). We understand the financial burden of an instantaneous dorm restoration project, but money alone doesn't legitimize putting students in harm's way since the University is already spending $9 million at minimum on asbestos abatement. \nThe IDS has been told that all four dorms are scheduled for renovation some time within the next 10 years. This is a reassurance, though ideally the University should reconsider removing the asbestos sooner. \nNonetheless, since the University claims it cannot afford to renovate the dorms any sooner, we ask it to engage in an aggressive asbestos awareness campaign. Currently, when new students move into dorms at the beginning of the year, they are given "Your Neighborhood from A to Z" booklets that mention cursory warnings about asbestos in the dorm rooms: "Materials that contain asbestos include floor tiles, linoleum, pipe insulation and ceilings ... Please don't insert nails, hooks, bottle caps or do anything that would damage the material even slightly. If you notice any damage, please report it to your center desk."\nAs a result of the asbestos warning cited above, Pat Connor, director of Residential Programs and Services, said the responsibility for keeping asbestos intact lies with the students. \nFrom a public relations vantage, the University's done a wonderful job. It's stifled debate by divulging the bare minimum amount of information regarding asbestos to keep itself legally safe. Bravo. \nBut from a moral and ethical angle, the University's asbestos awareness campaign needs improvement. A blurb in a student booklet is not sufficient. Even a sticker on a dorm room door would do more than a blurb. As IDS reports indicate, some students didn't know they were living in a dorm with asbestos until Monday's article. \n"I probably wouldn't have lived (in Forest) if I had known about it," freshman Jennifer Faulk told the IDS. "They said they'd get rid of it all in 10 years, but 10 years is a long time ... " \nIn lieu of the University's apathy toward the asbestos situation, we urge the IU Student Association, Residence Hall Association and dorm presidents throughout campus to speak up. After all, someone needs to stand up for the students.