Although stifling temperatures in Bentley Hall pushed learning to the periphery yesterday, history professor Chester Pach said he couldn't afford to cancel class.
It's like an episode of survivor
said Pach, who needed the class time to prepare for a midterm tomorrow.
Opening the windows did not help, he said, comparing the heat in Bentley to the heat of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
To deal with the heat, some students chose to skip class or bring bottled water and teachers set up fans, dismissed students early or even canceled classes.
Junior Ben Kline said he was dying after his first class in Bentley, and thankful the teacher in his second class let students leave an hour early.
Facilities Management is handling any problems regarding the air conditioning, said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities.
The swift change from cold to hot temperatures combined with OU's decentralized system have created challenges for temperature regulation, he said.
The air conditioning in other classroom buildings such as Ellis, Gordy, Scripps and Morton halls, however, was up and running.
Kline, who studies education, advises other students to skip class until Bentley cools off.
Bentley is unbearably hot said senior Cheri Southall, adding that she would probably skip her next class.
Despite the 87-degree weather, no heat-related illnesses were reported at Hudson Health Center yesterday, said Kyla Lee, director of nursing, adding that intravenous fluids were available if needed, and any severe cases of heat-related illness would be directed to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.
Heat-related illnesses occur mostly among the elderly, who tend to shut themselves in doors without proper ventilation, and is less likely among college students, who are more active, said Chuck Hammer, administrator for the Athens City-County Health Department.
The county has no standards regarding when people should turn on the air conditioning, he said.
To prevent heat-related illnesses, people should take cool showers, wear light, loose clothing, stay indoors as much as possible and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, according to the Centers for Disease Control Web site.
The hotter you are the better a cold beer tastes said James Schulz, unit manager in the emergency department at O'Bleness.
Students should not use alcohol as a substitute for water, he said, adding that apart from a few cases of dehydration and severe sunburn, students have managed the heat well so far.
- Rick Rouan contributed to this story.
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Caitlin Bowling
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Bentley Hall
