Residents complain of mould, privacy issues, faulty heating

Students at the University of King’s College are calling on the university to put more effort into funding renovations to the Cochran Bay residence building due to privacy concerns in washrooms, outdated heating systems and suspected mould in dorms and bathrooms.

First-year student Ella Mowbray Chriske, a Cochran Bay resident and residence representative for the King’s Students’ Union (KSU), said she took on the role because of the building’s condition.

“The main problems with Cochran Bay are the foundational things,” she said. “Like the heating system and the washrooms.”

She said suspected mould grows around the showers and on the ceiling. While the administration says it has been treated with bleach, it has not been removed. Ian Wagschal, director of facilities management, said in an email statement to The Watch that custodians check the shower stalls weekly and clean any mould or mildew found. Wagschal did not confirm or deny whether an inspector had ever been brought in to inspect the mould.

Mowbray Chriske also raised privacy concerns, as showers are separated by curtains rather than doors, and some floors share only one bathroom stall among eight students. She describes the heating system as “all or nothing,” with radiators either failing to heat rooms or making them too hot and noisy. 

“Some people had to move out of their rooms temporarily because they couldn’t sleep with it,” she said, adding that some students complained their radiators smelled of burning plastic.  

Olivia Chaput, the KSU financial vice-president, does not live in Cochran Bay but said its conditions are worse than any other residence at King’s.

Chaput sits in on budget conversations with the administration and said, “The university currently does not have the money to do the Cochran Bay renovation, and I don’t think they will be able to find it in their budget any time soon.”

She said the funding will likely have to come from donations but added that Cochran Bay is not the most “attractive” project to appeal to large donors.

In an email statement to The Watch, Adriane Abbott, the director of advancement, said that the school is raising money through the “Welcoming: The Future of King’s” campaign, which has collected $11 million of its $15 million goal. The campaign included renewal funding for the Tri-Bays residences, with Cochran Bay next on the list of priorities. 

However, Chaput and Mowbray Chriske worry the school is prioritizing the Southeast Corner Project (SEC), which will, according to the university’s website, redevelop the gymnasium, add a wellness centre, a new home for the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing, and a residence that will more than double current capacity.

“They’re investing a lot of time and resources into that rather than, like, fixing Cochran Bay, which is a place where students already live,” said Chaput. 

In her statement, however, Abbott said Cochran Bay is the priority and that the SEC is not part of the future of King’s campaign.

“The SEC project planning is underway, so that it can happen down the road, it is preliminary work for the longer term,” she wrote. “The goals of the Future King’s Campaign is where our fundraising resources are focused today.”

Abbott said the upgrades will be incremental, and they cannot commit to a renovation timeline without the proper funding. She said the school has recently made improvements to soffit, windows and flooring, and the top priorities now are upgrading the washrooms and residence furniture. Abbott said the school is aiming to raise $1.5 million to fund these upgrades.

Wagschal said ventilation systems have been cleaned and recommended keeping bathroom windows open to improve airflow.

Students also raised concerns about the building’s lack of a kitchen or common room. The Cochran Bay common room is located in the Arts & Administration basement, requiring students to go outside to access it, and the nearest kitchen is in another residence.

“If we want a sink, it’s the one in the washroom, or we’re walking outside in the cold to another residence,” said Mowbray Chriske. 

A survey circulated by Mowbray Chriske to Cochran Bay residents collected nine anonymous responses on their experiences in residence. None recommended living there, all reported seeing mould and all but one had radiator issues. 

Only one student answered ‘Yes’ to feeling safe with the living conditions in the residence. 

Abbot said Cochran Bay, which houses 20 students, is the final residence in a multi-year renewal that began with North Pole Bay in 2017. Since 2019, the school has spent a reported $10.17 million on residence projects.

“All of King’s residences needed upgrades, not just Cochran Bay,” she wrote. “It costs money to do this work, and it cannot all be done at once.”

Mowbray Chriske said delays will only worsen the problem. “Avoiding it, even though it’s not a glamorous project, it’s still very important and affecting the lives of students on campus.”