A polished exterior hiding a crumbling interior: the vast array of internal infrastructure problems at Colby

The fact that Colby has one of the most beautiful college campuses is practically indisputable given the combination of Maine foliage, the majestic Miller Library overlooking Mayflower Hill, and the iconic red brick architecture.

However, beneath this picturesque landscape lies a multitude of internal infrastructure problems, especially in the older buildings on campus. These issues are particularly prevalent in the dorms, as these buildings tend to be off-limits to alumni, trustees, and visitors, and thus do not need to keep up an artifice of impeccability.

Rodent infestations, mold, inconsistent heating, and leaking roofs are just some of the many problems plaguing the dorms on campus. The Colby Echo sat down with a student and dorm resident who recently had to deal with a leaking roof. Their identity and residence hall will remain anonymous.

During the night in question there was a major storm, and the resulting excess of rainwater, while certainly an inconvenience for students walking around without an umbrella, exacerbated the abundance of internal infrastructure issues bubbling underneath the surface.

The student was studying with a friend in their dorm when their friend pointed out that their printer, located next to the wall, was dripping wet. 

The student already lived in an atypical dorm — it was an extension of the building, and was originally intended to be a study space, not a bedroom. 

It was quickly discovered that the ceiling above the printer was rapidly leaking rainwater, and that the surrounding area below the leak was completely soaked.

In desperation, paper bags were duct taped to the wall under the ceiling to try and collect the dripping water. The community advisor (CA) was called, who then called security. Although an officer was sent over, there was little that they could do, considering it was night and too dark for someone to check the roof.

“[Security] didn’t really have a solution, so there was no resolution and I just had to deal with it somehow and make sure water wouldn’t get everywhere,” the student said. “I had to move everything, and keep in mind, I have no space to move anything.”

Although the rain would stop by the next morning, the problem of a faulty roof persisted. Facilities was contacted immediately, yet there was no response for over a week, even with a follow-up by the CA. 

What ensued was a time consuming navigation of the complicated bureaucracy behind placing a work order to fix a leaking roof.

As recalled by the anonymous source, “At that point I contacted one of the deans of accommodations who is also involved with housing, and she immediately forwarded me to our class dean ... who then reached out to Campus Life, then Facilities and then someone else,” the student recalled. 

“So, in a nutshell, we now have four deans involved with my issue … It took four deans for Facilities to finally acknowledge and send someone over to actually look and see what the problem was,” the student said. “After two to three days, someone came to look at the problem, only to say ‘oh the problem’s not the ceiling, it’s a problem with the window flashing.’”

After this, the student did not hear back from anyone, so their CA followed up yet again. They were informed that an outside company would be brought in to deal with the issue.

As of the date the student was interviewed, there was still no confirmation of the problem being resolved.

Of course, it is unfair to blame Facilities for the leaking roof, or even to criticize their slow response to an urgent issue. After all, considering the amount of internal problems that are constantly emerging, it can be argued that the department is ill-equipped and underfunded to deal with all of them. 

The truth of the matter is that Colby is long overdue for a major renovation of their existing buildings. 

While the construction of a brand new athletic center and the upcoming construction of a new performing arts center is certainly a smart investment and makes the institution look good on paper, these are not buildings where students occupy the majority of their time.

It is true that most infrastructure investments at Colby are intended to help with commercialization of the school, and renovations of the inside of dorms or buildings do little to help Colby’s image. However, many of the buildings on campus are falling inside, even if the damage is not yet reflected by the exterior.

Perhaps it is time for the College to shift their focus from projecting an alluring image on their recruiting catalogue to focusing on ensuring an acceptable quality of life for their students.

~ Hae Jung Kim `24