Several Purdue dorms without AC as freshmen move in

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - This may be one of the last glimpses this year of a quiet Purdue University. This weekend, thousands of students will move to campus, and get set in their dorm rooms.

Yet, during a summer filled with 100 degree temperatures, some students may have to get creative when it comes to staying cool. That is, if they're in a dorm without air conditioning.

"In a normal year, by the time we get into September things have moderated, but this year may be a little different we'll just have to wait and see," said University Residences employee Bob Heitert.

Right now, Cary South, Tarkington, Owen, Wiley, and Meredith Halls don't have air conditioning.

Heitert said all those halls were build in the 1960s before air conditioning was the norm. Yet, he suggests some ways to keep cool.

"A fan is always good," said Heitert. "A small fan that can take air out of the window during the heat of the day, and bring it in from the outside in the cool of the evening. If you're in your room and do that and open your door so you get cross ventilation, you'll be surprised at how well that cools the room."

If for medical reasons a student needs air conditioning, Heitert said all it takes is filling out a form, and the student will be moved to an air-conditioned dorm. However, no AC units can be put into rooms.

"There are no immediate plans to air condition additional halls," said Heitert. "We probably won't make any decision about that until we develop a multi-year plan, which we're working on now."

Heitert suggests taking advantage of the communal, central areas in the dorms, which are all air conditioned. He said it's a place to cool down and maybe meet a new friend.