A group of three freshman wore hospital masks Tuesday during the 2018 State of the University Address to draw attention to the mold problem on campus.
One of the freshmen, Lizzie Martinez, said the masks were a symbol of the University ignoring student voices.
“We’ve been sick basically the entire time we’ve been here,” Martinez said.
Inspectors found mold earlier this semester in McNutt and Foster Quads, and multiple students have been relocated to other living arrangements. IU has cleaned more than 280 rooms, with 540 more to still be inspected and cleaned as of Tuesday.
During his address, IU President Michael McRobbie said the University is taking care of the problem. Any student who has had respiratory problems because of mold and received medical care will be reimbursed by IU through a soon-to-be established claims procedure.
Martinez said she has been to the doctor three times and was given medication to help with the mold-related illness. She didn’t know about the reimbursement until McRobbie’s announcement.
“I’ve taken all the medications, paid for all the medications myself,” Martinez said.
Martinez said her academics have been drastically affected since she moved in, having to dedicate extra time to sleep instead of studying or preparing for midterms.
“We have to sleep a lot of the time just to stay focused, and it’s really hard to focus in school when you’re at the point of exhaustion,” Martinez said. “Definitely our academics are lacking in a way that is not our fault and it’s because of the mold.”
McRobbie said professors and other faculty have been notified to be more lenient with mold-related student absences.
