According to a student survey 97 percent of boarding students, if permitted, would get an air conditioning unit for their dorm room. The Mount has a long history of complaining about the conditions of the boarding program. However, in recent years many positive changes have been made, including separate dorms for the freshman, installation of the recreation room and the freshmen lounge, and even the renovations of the senior dorms. Yet one issue that has risen above all is the lack of air conditioning for parts of the Benedict Building.
Boarders are left sweating all night long as their fans do little to cool down the rooms. These miserable conditions in the dorms prevent good sleep and thus the productivity of students, a real problem for The Mount and its efficiency.
The senior dorm renovations were completed over the summer, bringing freshly painted walls, new carpet, new desks, and the new water fountain. However, many seniors including John Chen ’26 were disappointed that these renovations did not include air conditioning for the floor. “I like the redesign, the desks are very cool, but it is so hot,” Chen said.
Survey results also found that boarders are willing to buy their own units to bring some comfort to the dorms. The students are willing to sacrifice their own money and time to bring a solution to the school, and yet it is rejected despite the fact that in previous years the students were permitted to bring units.
Administration cites the cost of operating units. However, students like Cooper Weakland ’26 argue that, “We all have refrigerators, and some people have lights and lamps. Why is one A/C unit too much?” This argument remains unaddressed by school authorities, who continue to emphasize the cost of the units. However, every single dean’s room has an A/C unit, leaving the student body to question the validity of this claim of cost. All it would take is one or two units in the hallways of the dorms to make a world of difference for the sweltering months of the year.
The Benedict Building’s issues were ultimately displayed in the disaster of this year’s homecoming dance heat. Although the dance had over 800 attendees, the vast majority left the dance shortly after arriving, mostly due to the draining heat. Josh Morgan ’26 stated that the dance’s heat prevented him from enjoying the night, “I did not want to be there long, it was just way too hot.”
Overall, the benefits of this change are many. First, better sleeping conditions, the beginning and the end of the school year which are the hottest on average. Also, the cooler conditions are likely to reduce stress and improve physical and mental well-being of the students and staff who inhabit the school.
The student body has been desperately pleading for a solution to this problem for years now, and with new administration in place, and renovations already taking place, now would be the perfect time to make the change to modern comfort in the Benedict Building.
