SEARCY, Ark. (KTHV) -- Mold covered dorms at a Central Arkansas University.
Multiple students allege a black mold is a recurring issue inside their dorms at Harding University. It isn't just one student and it isn't just one hall. Multiple students, over multiple years, in multiple dorms say mold is an issue inside Harding University's student housing.
Last week, we got a Facebook message to our THV11 account, from someone who saw Sidney Brownderville's Facebook post about the mold in her dorm. We tracked Sidney down at Harding University, and asked her to explain what's been going on.
"So when I moved in this semester, about two weeks ago, I noticed that my vent was completely covered in black mold. I was told, after the same day of reporting it, that it was not, in fact, black mold. But, it was mold. They came in, they replaced it. They did not clean it, just replaced the vent, and I'm really concerned it's just going to grow back, because that's what they told us,” the Sophomore told us.
She added that when maintenance replaced her vent in Searcy hall, they told her it would have to be cleaned again and the mold will come back.
"But, it's not just in my room, it's in every room, and the problem needs to be addressed,” she went on to say, before walking down the hall to a friend's dorm, where they are dealing with rust and mold in the shower vent.
The mold, Brownderville said, was also an issue last year.
"I don't want it to get to the point, of how bad it was my freshman year, when I had six upper respiratory infections and that be the case here, or be worse and turn in to something possibly worse,” Brownderville explained.
She reported the mold multiple times but didn't feel it was being taken seriously. That's when she posted the photos on Facebook.
"My concerns were just kind of overlooked. I was kind of shown to the wayside. They fixed the problem, and that's it," she said.
We reached out to Harding University for a response. When it came to the mold in Brownderville's room, they said: we are glad to hear the student acknowledges the issue with her wall vent that she reported was addressed. We did inspect the duct work and found it to be completely clean. The vent was kept closed so condensation built up on the surface so rust and mildew formed. This is the only report of mold on campus we have received.
On our way to Brownderville's dorm, we were stopped by other students who wanted to show us the issues in Cathcart Hall, where Brownderville lived last year.
"This is a trashcan that just has sludge dripping down from the ceiling all the time,” explained a student who did not want to be identified.
The trashcan is on the third and top floor. That's where Brownderville lived last year. She also lives on the third floor now. Inside, brown water falls from the ceiling above. Mold and rust cover the cables that run, where the tiles have been removed.
"It has gotten to here before they've removed it,” the student said placing her hand about ½ of the way up the large plastic trashcan.
The student walked us down the hall to another dorm.
"This one just drips all the time, and I don't think anyone lives in here. Before, when it has rained, you'll see a trashcan here a trashcan there. They're just scattered down the hall catching water that comes in,” she said of the room, adding she's worried that when spring rains come, the issues could get worse. "A lot of showers do get the mold. A lot of things in the bathroom, like where you put your toilet paper, it's completely rusted. In some of my friends' bathrooms, where they pull out their toilet paper from the wall, it's all rusted through."
Regarding the reports of dripping water, Harding University tells us in an official statement: We are aware of a residence hall on campus that has roof leaks and that roof is scheduled for replacement this summer. Because we cannot replace the roof until after students have moved out. The leaks are reported to be only in common areas, there have been no leaks reported in student rooms.
While at least a half dozen students stopped us to share their concerns, Harding said when leaks and mold are reported, they respond promptly and address any damage to the immediate area within the same day; according to maintenance protocol. Harding said the University’s residents have been informed that the roof is being replaced this summer.