Other buildings as important as SSPA

The purpose of our news story was not to complain because we have problems breathing down here in the basement, or that our staff members get sick from foul air.

Having to breathe air contaminated by toxic fumes for hours on end is not a requirement of any academic program. Yet, that's what we may be doing down here and in other buildings on campus.

Media reporting is about bringing important issues to the public's attention and the health of every member of the Cal State Long Beach community is important.

Administration and facilities management officials have to realize that air quality is a matter of life or death. They are just as responsible for our health as the tobacco companies are responsible for hooking smokers on nicotine.

We don't want to imply that any building, whether new or old, air-conditioned or not, is safer than this basement or that our situation is worse than any other on campus is.

The Peterson Hall Buildings are old. They house chemistry and other science laboratories in which chemicals and other toxic materials are used and housed. The air quality there is just as important to us as ours. Are they checked regularly for leaks?

Sitting in class in one of the Liberal Arts buildings is no safer. These buildings are also old and in need of some type of air circulation system. The pollen and dust from the trees blow inside the windows, settling in lungs and skin pores.

Because of the stories in this newspaper, the administration is aware of the need to check air quality in every building on campus.The university has hired Healthy Buildings International to give us an accurate and unbiased report on the state of things. Will they tell us the truth?Students and faculty spend hours in some of these buildings and need to be assured that toxic fumes are not slowly poisoning them.