Dorm Room Paint Will Be Available Within Next Month

The shortage of paint available to students who wish to paint their rooms will be eased "within a month," Stephen S.J. Hall, vice president for Administration, said yesterday.

About 400 students have filed requests for paint this semester, a drastic increase over the 150 requests received all last year, he said.

Hall suggested several reasons for the delay in filling these requests:

* the large increase in requests for paint this fall;

* logistical problems of inspecting 400 rooms;

* Repairs needed on the surfaces of some walls; and

* the failure of students to return tools lent to them.

"The program is in a state of transition," Hall explained. The Buildings and Grounds Department is trying to develop a distribution system which will be able to handle large numbers of requests, he said.

Hall said he is hoping to prepare prepackaged, disposable painting kits, which would speed up the distribution process.

At present, a student who wishes to repaint his room must submit an application which is sent to Buildings and Grounds. A maintenance man must then inspect the room and make any necessary repairs. The student then receives the paint free and provides his own labor for the job.

Under the new system a student would select from stock a kit which would include paint, a brush, spackle, and sandpaper. All of these tools would be disposable and would eliminate the problem of retrieving the expensive tools now issued.

Hall said he is pleased with the student interest in the program and is aware of the benefits of the student's free labor.