If I am being frank, I have a love-hate relationship with the current construction on campus. As a Curtis Hall resident — living just feet away from piles of dirt and construction crews — I must tolerate an agonizingly loud noise every morning at the break of dawn.
While I do tend to start my days fairly early, I prefer to be awakened by my anticipated alarm, being able to snooze at my own discretion. Obviously, I — along with my fellow Curtis survivors — lack the power or capability to deactivate the machinery outside, which is especially frustrating on off-days when we prefer to sleep in. My irritation may seem like the whining of someone spoiled, and I agree that this is a relatively low-stakes issue. With that being said, when considering the steep cost of housing, as well as my perceived immunity to such noise for those outside of Ciccone Commons, this current situation is simply unfair.
Colgate University recently celebrated its bicentennial anniversary, which brought with it a highly anticipated Third-Century Plan, and major construction work has been executed and is currently underway across campus. Peter’s Glen — a beautifully crafted pathway located between Frank Dining Hall and the Dana Arts Center that is designed to improve pedestrian traffic — is the current construction project affecting my life and sleep. To be honest, as I pass by this operation every morning on my way to class, I am amazed at how quickly the project is developing without sacrificing attention to detail. Nevertheless, hearing the clamor bright and early well before classes begin is an utter nuisance.
To further my point about the disruptive nature of the campus construction, I would like to address something that has yet to be acknowledged: quiet hours. For context, loud disturbances are prohibited within residential halls from 10 p.m. – 8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. As the production outside overlaps with these times, it seems that the guidelines are being downright ignored. While this standard does not technically apply to noise outside of the buildings, the cacophony of sound frequently spills into the building rooms and is definitely disruptive. I do feel confident that this is absolutely unintentional; however, Ciccone residents are losing sleep and quiet time to relax and rejuvenate for busy days of classes because of the disruptive noise.
You may be wondering, could this issue be fixed by simply closing the windows? To that I respond that this does not sufficiently rectify the inconvenience for everyone. Our walls by no means prevent all sound from leaking in, which is irritating for students that need total silence in order to get some well-needed sleep. Plus, it also ought to be known that Curtis Hall does not offer air conditioning in the dorms. Consequently, for air circulation on warmer days especially, and for many people still during colder times, students keep windows open overnight in order to limit overheating and maintain an ideal room temperature. Everyone has different needs regarding their sleep routine, so fulfilling all requests is impossible. However, as this burden is troubling the vast majority of people involved, it should be handled.
In a perfect world, no student would have any troubles or vexations regarding their Colgate campus life. Yet, as this utopian hypothetical is merely a dream, we must face this situation as adults, and realize that not everything goes our way. What I am requesting are simple revisions. If construction was to start at 8 a.m. — thus pushed back to align with quiet hours — that would be of valuable help. This compromise would help reduce early morning noise, while hopefully keeping the project on schedule to be completed without delay. We are all excited to relish in the beauty and assistance that Peter’s Glen will provide us with and therefore do not want to delay enjoying what the future offers. Nevertheless, the present moment brings serious irritation, and we must find a middle ground between construction productivity and student contentment.
When I decided to attend this fine university, I felt safe and comforted in knowing that the faculty and staff on campus will always strive to provide every student with the best possible undergraduate experience. For that reason, I feel confident in trusting that this matter will be addressed and resolved in the near future.
