301 Students Sign Demand For Asbestos Removal

In the latest of a series of actions by students, faculty and staff urging the removal of asbestos insulation from buildings throughout the University. 301 Law School students signed a petition yesterday demanding the extraction of the hazardous material from Law School facilities this summer.

Law School administrators responded by saying that all exposed asbestos has already been covered or removed, and said they are unaware of any potential health hazards at the Law School.

Asbestos--a common insulating material that has been linked to cancer and other fatal diseases--has recently sparked concern among students and employees at the Biological Laboratories and in the College Kitchens and tunnels.

Locations

Students who organized yesterday's petition charged that the asbestos insulation is peeling and crumbling in Langdell Library, the Law School's underground tunnels, and its student dormitories, said Diana Zalph, a first-year law student who helped arrange the event.

While the University had already determined that certain locations did contain asbestos, officials decided against removing the material, and opted to cover or patch the affected areas.

Harvard's decision prompted a dozen students to prepare the petition, which Zalph said they plan to submit to Law School administrators.

Dirty Laundry

"There was massive exposure of asbestos in the laundry room, and not enough has been done," Zalph added, hoping to alert students and administrators to the potential hazard.

The University "has offered temporary measures, but [the asbestos] continues to crack off. We want something more permanent done," she said.

Policy

University policy states that asbestos, if exposed, may be either removed or covered since both measures adequately prevent any hazard, said Russell A. Simpson, an assistant dean at the Law School.

"My conception of University policy is different from Zalph's. She believes that covering it is not sufficient," he said.

While all the asbestos "eventually should be removed, in the short run it mkes sense to take some economic considerations into account so long as covering it is safe," he added.

Survey

Law School administrators are currently awaiting results from a survey conducted by the Environmental Health and Safety Office documenting the location of asbestos in each of the buildings.