The Michigan Daily-Thursday, May 3, 1979-Page 9
Garbage, valuables abandoned in dorms
By TIMOTHY YAGLE
West Quad's head housekeeper Bob
Jones and three student summer main-
tenance workers strode down a Rumsev
House corridor yesterday, peering into
half-furnished rooms with garbage
strewn about in some of them.
"This is the worst I've ever seen it,"
commented Jones.
"JUST USE your wildest imagination
about what some of the rooms look
like," added LSA junior Mark Lichter-
man, who is a summer maintenance
worker for the University.
Other University residence hall
directors, housekeepers, and main-
tenance workers made similar remarks
as they made their rounds through
dorm rooms following Winter term,
collecting a menagerie of items that
students have left behind.
Lichterman and Engineering senior
Steve Markovich, who is also a summer
maintenance worker, said they found a
Detroit News dispensing machine in
one West Quad room, plus a complete
stereo system in its box in another
room.
AS LICHTERMAN and Markovich
made their rounds, they encountered
corridors littered with garbage.
"They sweep it (the garbage) into the
halls and let someone else clean it up,"
Lichterman said. "And whatever they
don't put in trash cans, they throw out
the window," he added. Lichterman
also said he was intrigued by the "fun-
ny graffiti" on the walls.
They said the most-common items
that have been picked up are
magazines, pieces of wood from lef-
tover lofts, broken phones and drapery
rods.
LEON WEST, West Quad Building
Director, enters each room with one or
two-housekeepers and to look for things
needing repair. Then at the end of each
summer, he makes his rounds again to
be certain those repairs have been
made, said Markovich.
"The students are told what will be
looked for," he added. Markovich ad-
ded that there is a standardized list of
things to look for which makes things
easier to spot.
Mary Markley Building Director
Leroy Williams said the process which
involves inspecting the rooms,
evaluating the damage, and sending the
bills covering the damage estimates to
students takes about five days.
WILLIAMS SAID the Markley rooms
"were in real good shape (this year)."
The most common items Williams
found in Markley rooms were
magazines, bottles, cans, and rugs.
After they are confiscated, the items
are held for 30 days or until students
claim them at the Lost and Found in the
Student Activities Building (SAB). Af-
ter that, Williams says, University em-
ployees may take them.
Williams-indicated that the most
bizarre thing he has found was a
Molotov cocktail in Markley's in-
cinerator last weekend. He also found
small bottles of acid and various
amounts of marijuana in trash cans.
SUCH EXPENSIVE items as,
television sets, stereos, clock radios,
and fancy lamps have been collected in
the past. "We've had some very good
carpets thrown out," he said. "In 10
years, I've seen it all." Williams said a
student left what he estimated as $2,500-
13,000 worth of camera equipment last
weekend. The student called Williams
from New York on Monday to claim it.
Williams also said usually there is
heavier security after classes end, but
no looters have been reported.
Students who take University-owned
items when they leave are sent bills for
those items. If students don't pay the
bills, they are given hold credits and
are billed for the items on their Univer-
sity accounts, Williams said.
"It's the part of my job that I don't
like," he added, "but I have to do it."
Doily Poto by LA uuLELSrO
THIS CLUTTERED corridor in West Quad is similar to many halls throughout
University residences at the end of Winter term, as students pile discarded items
outside their rooms.
Does it really have to be this way?
Not if you do your book rush buying at Ulrich's. Ulrich's has
polite, ftriendly employees who will find your books for you and help you with
your other supplies. And you won't have to hock your sirloin to pay for them.
Give Ulrich's a try this year.
MORE THAN A BOOKSTORE
549 East University at the corner of East U. and South U.
obr
IfhlbigaU
is preserved on
3kmm lC D R ~1F~
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