As a center for the humanities, the newly renovated Bachelor Hall is no stranger to a dialectic. In this case, it’s the tension between the excitement of a new building and the issues that have come along with it.
The $72 million, two-year renovation project transformed the nearly 50-year-old building, including the addition of a four-story atrium, a basement and professional-grade media suites. However, Bachelor Hall has also been plagued by mice sightings, frequent elevator issues and flooding that resulted in water being cut.
The flooding occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Senior media and communications major Isabella Olivas was working as a student associate at the equipment center when she saw water.
“I opened the door and I looked out in the corner where all the editing suites are and where the studio is, and there’s a puddle right next to the men’s bathroom,” she said. “Everyone said it smelled terrible.”
That was around 11 a.m. Later, at 11:23 a.m., an email was sent out to students announcing that the water to Bachelor Hall was cut off, meaning no access to drinking fountains or restrooms.
If students needed to use the restroom, the email urged readers to “use Shriver or Armstrong bathrooms, or any other location convenient.”
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Shriver and Armstrong are both across the street from Bachelor Hall.
The issue was the result of a manhole blockage, which has since been resolved, according to an email statement from Cody Powell, vice president of Facility Planning and Operations.
Olivas said the water was out the entire time she was in Bachelor, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. She said wasn’t shocked about the events.
“I was not that surprised because I am aware of some other facility mishaps,” Olivas said. “The elevator over by the studio has been shut down for at least over a week. Some of the projectors and speakers in the classrooms are not fully operating. So when I heard that the bathrooms were closed, I was like, ‘Well, yep, sounds about right.’”
For Jody Bates, an associate professor of English and creative writing, the lack of consistent elevators has been a particular issue, especially considering those who can’t take the stairs.
“The [elevator] issue has been particularly felt for students and faculty who, when they arrive and the elevator is out, that changes the complexion of their day,” he said. “The number of times the elevators have gone out has been something I’m surprised about.”
He said he gets email notices when the elevators are down and that he receives them frequently. He even remembers the elevators getting stuck during Bachelor Hall’s grand opening.
“These feel a little bit bigger than growing pains,” Bates said. “It’s taken folks by surprise that these particular issues have been coming up, and they’ve been persistent ones. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, the response will be, in addition to quick attention to the problems ... it will be long term solutions so we don’t run into those problems again.”
As for the mice sightings, Andrew Peck, an associate professor in the strategic communication department, said he found teeth marks and mouse droppings in his office after an initial warning about mice from his department.
“There were definitely some mice in here chewing on things, which is not a problem I had in our previous building.” Peck said. “Yeah, Williams had a lot of pests. My office was infested with bees in Williams, but no mice.”
At the time of the interview, there was a new mouse dropping in his office. He said the presence of mice makes him reconsider where he spends his time while he’s on campus.
Powell said in his email statement there have been no issues since the initial report was filed.
“I believe we have two work orders that were written regarding concern for mice in August. We have set traps and monitor them weekly,” he wrote. “I believe only one mouse has been caught in the two month time period.”
In an interview, he said the issue might be due to construction, and that he doesn’t see it as an infestation.
“My guess is with Bachelor, you know, with it being under construction, it’s not uncommon for doors to be left open or things like that during that period of time,” Powell said, “so it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a mouse in there.”
Despite the initial issues, the mood in and about Bachelor seems to be high.
“It’s a beautiful building, and I think it will have a crucial function and excellent future on Miami’s campus,” Bates said. “It’s a beautiful building with a bright future.”
Contributed reporting by Sarah Kennel.
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