Mold closes UK frat house

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Mold closes UK frat house

By Art Jester

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER Kentucky.com - Lexington,KY

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15644232.htm

An infestation of mold in a fraternity house will force the

University of Kentucky to move all 48 residents to temporary housing

within three weeks.

Much of the interior of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house at

410 Rose Lane will be torn apart in an attempt to locate and remedy

the problem, which was brought to UK's attention by some angry

parents.

There is " a fairly significant mold problem at SAE, " Ben Crutcher,

UK's associate vice president for auxiliary services, said Friday.

UK expects to spend from $75,000 to $100,000 on the repairs, he

said. If they go smoothly, the SAEs could be back by January, he

said.

UK will not let the SAEs back into the house until it is safe and

healthy, he said.

Ellen Crane Mullen of ville, Ind., the mother of fraternity

member Crane, brought the problem to the fraternity's

attention, said Andy Mayer, president of SAE House Corp., which

manages the residence.

Mullen, an environmental consultant and certified mold inspector,

has essentially led several irate parents as they have pressed UK

administrators over the last two months to clean up the mold.

Mullen has contended that UK administrators have been insensitive to

the problem and unaware of the potentially severe health

consequences from living in the mold-infested frat house -- such

conditions as asthma, skin rashes, respiratory and eye infections

and immune system suppression.

Crane, who moved into an off-campus apartment last week,

said he has been struggling with a runny nose, a stopped-up nose,

sinus infections, bronchitis and fatigue.

" Everybody's had fatigue, and it's not from going out, " he said

Friday.

His mother said the threat is so dangerous that " you have to handle

mold like you handle asbestos. "

UK's Crutcher defended the university's response.

UK needed to take a " methodical " approach so it could determine

accurately the nature of the problem and how best to solve it, he

said.

The university conducted two rounds of environmental tests, he said.

UK isn't sure precisely what's causing the mold, but a contributing

factor is the high level of humidity in the house. It has ranged

from 50 to 80 percent, but should be in the 30 to 40 percent range,

he said.

" Mold will grow like crazy in 50 percent humidity, " Mullen said.

Crutcher said the problem could be caused by malfunctions in the

heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Some preliminary

evidence suggests there could be a problem in the air intake of the

forced-air system, he said.

UK had to address previous mold problems at the house in 2002 and

2004, but neither response was as drastic as the one about to take

place.

SAEs will be offered temporary housing at no additional cost in UK's

residence halls and Greg Page Apartments, Crutcher said.

SAEs who opt for off-campus housing will have to pay for it. But

they will be allowed to break their housing contract with UK, and UK

will refund their housing payments on a pro rata basis, he said.

UK will move any SAE who requests help, he said.

Crutcher will be one of the UK administrators attending SAE's weekly

meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to outline UK's relocation plan. Also on

hand will be members of SAE House Corp.

" Obviously, it's an issue we have to get fixed, " said Mayer, a UK

and SAE alumnus who was handling all public comments for the SAEs

Friday. " UK has thrown all of its resources at this problem. "

The SAE house is one of five Greek residences that UK owns and

maintains.

The $7.5 million, two-story building with robust columns was donated

to UK. It opened in 1999 thanks largely to the contributions and

fund-raising efforts of a UK and SAE alumnus, the late T.

Young, the prominent Lexington businessman, thoroughbred owner and

philanthropist.

The new SAE residence, regarded as fairly splendorous for a

fraternity house, replaced the bedraggled home of the SAEs that was

built in the 1960s. In 1997, the SAEs were suspended from UK because

of alleged hazing.

But two years later, the chapter was back in good graces, with

sparkling new quarters.

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Reach Art Jester at (859) 231-3489; 1-800-950-6397, ext. 3489; or

ajester@...