Students, staff rally for safety at ACC

Dec. 9—ENFIELD — Dozens of staff and students held a rally Thursday outside Asnuntuck Community College, demanding a safe working and learning environment.

The rally came after the school experienced three gas leaks this year in the welding workshop, which forced evacuations of the Elm Street building and have kept the shop closed now for weeks.

According to staff and students, the workshop has been closed for nearly five weeks, or one-third of the semester, meaning welding students haven't been able to do hands-on learning.

The rallygoers stood outside the school's front entrance, on the sidewalk by the street, and walked through the building at one point, shouting slogans such as "One gas leak, one too many," and holding signs that read, "We're outside because it's dangerous inside."

Elle Van Dermark, faculty officer for the Asununtuck union chapter of the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges, said the gas leaks are another issue in what have been decades of struggles with air quality in the building.

The most recent leaks occurred Nov. 18 and Dec. 3 in the manufacturing area, where open flames could turn a leak into an explosion, Van Dermark said. A previous leak occurred in January.

In addition to the danger of the situation, Van Dermark said, staff and students believe school administrators haven't been forthcoming with information about their plans to fix the problem and continue to use contractors that have done shoddy work, even as students miss out on class time.

"We aren't giving them the education they're paying for," Van Dermark said.

Mike Kunze, a welding instructor, said a pressure test of the gas lines was being conducted Thursday, and the results were expected this afternoon. Both he and Van Dermark were clear that they believe the test wouldn't have been conducted without the rally.

Kunze said the problem has been with the workshop's ventilation unit. The unit sucks up the harmful fumes created from welding and is supposed to return fresh, warm, breathable air back.

Kunze said that when the gas leaks occurred, gas was circulated into the workshop with what was supposed to be the fresh air.

On more than one occasion a student or staff member had to pull the fire alarm, the building was evacuated, and the fire department called, Kunze said.

As of Thursday, the workshop had been closed for nearly five weeks, limiting students to time in the classroom only, he said. Learning the principles of welding in the classroom can only take you so far, Kunze said. To learn how to weld, students need to actually do it. They also need to spend a certain number of hours in the shop in order to complete the course.

As long as the workshop remains closed, it's difficult to decide what can be done for the students. Kunze said some students have told him they won't be returning until the problem is fixed, because they don't feel safe.

Kunze said many students are going to receive a grade of incomplete for this semester. It's possible they will have to attend class over the winter break, which presents its own problems.

Student Liam Bocchichio said he signed up for the welding course with a real desire to learn how to weld and work in the automotive industry. But he and his classmates have now missed 12 class days. Commuting from New Hartford, he uses at least a tank of gas a week driving to the school. If he has to continue attending school over winter break, and take classes instead of working, that will be hard on him financially, Bocchichio said.

Similarly, student Christian Santiago said he signed up for the welding course at Asnuntuck because he heard it was one of the best programs in the state. It doesn't feel that way now, he said.

"We paid for something and we're not getting it," said student Christian Santiago.

The situation has been stressful for him because he needs to get a job. What was supposed to be a 10-week course now will take longer and cut into the time he expected to be working, he said.

He said it's unacceptable for the students, teachers, or taxpayers who fund the college.

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