An Unwelcome Tradition
by Nina
It has happened again...you know, one of those traditions that no one really likes. Last night, in the wee hours of the morning one of my neighbors awoke to the sound of water, not in pipes or the sink or the toilet - but in the heating system. There were inches of water just sitting in her kitchen. That's right, it has flooded once again.At least 4 apartments provided by the seminary are now wet, with books stacked on tables, and chairs on refrigerators, furniture piled on itself and stacked on bricks, and squishy, dirty carpet. The students living there are welcomed into a new semester with a special gift - awaking in the night to find themselves in the midst of this great Luther Seminary tradition.
Last year, my apartment flooded - and it was not an enjoyable experience. I was very disappointed to discover this happens with surprising regularity here at Luther. I now know of 8 students who have lived through flooded apartments in Burntvedt (and I've only been here a year and a half).
This year the seminary anticipated flooding with the big thaw we're been having in Minnesota, and attempted to clear the drainage system and make sure there wasn't ice building up to clog it, which is what happened last year. Still, the tradition continued this week.
Last year, some in authority at Luther were surprised by the flood. They either were ignorant to this tradition, or were deceptive about it (to me) in order to slough responsibility. Some would blame the city of Lauderdale for the water problem. I'm sure the city of Lauderdale thinks its the Seminary's resp
onsibility to take care of drainage around its buildings. I know it is not the responsibility of residents who end up having to deal with repeated flooding, damage to their belongings, and scrambling to move during the semester. I have to say that I am, again, disappointed this has happened. It is so unfortunate for those affected. I am frustrated that it seems to not be a very high priority by those with power - to re-engineer the drainage system, deem certain apartments "off-the-market," or advocate for structural change from the city.
If you want to help out - two of the residents are planning to move tonight at 7 PM. I know they would really appreciate your help. Burntvedt 1588 C (#109 & 110)
posted by Nina at 2:36 PM
6 Comments:
*begin quote*
"Last year, some in authority at Luther were surprised by the flood. They either were ignorant to this tradition, or were deceptive about it (to me) in order to slough responsibility."
*end quote*
Although it is very unfortunate and very frustrating that this is happening once again, I think it's important that we consider the 8th Commandment and our duty to "interpret our neighbor's actions in the kindest way" in our interpretations of events. Maybe there's a middle ground somewhere between "ignorance" and "deception."
It's my hope (and assumption) that those "in authority" are doing the best they can under the circumstances, and that concerns about individuals "sloughing responsibility" are best addressed in person rather than in a post to a public forum, where even the best phrased thoughts may be rapidly misinterpreted.
And I hope that lots of people pitch in to help get things moved out of soggy apartments swiftly!
Personally, I commend you for sharing this issue with the community in this manner. I think that addressing issues of this ilk is exactly what a public forum is for. Let's not use Luther's wise words on the 8th commandment to prevent us from ever voicing our concerns to individuals in positions of responsibility.
The fact that the institution seems unwilling or unable to give any attention to this reoccurring problem tells me that the time may be right for just such public attention. The fact that students were allowed to rent these apartments after similar events last year (and perhaps prior years) and sub par efforts to avert the inevitable tells me that the time for cautious, wishful, individual voicing may be over.
The public forum of the media has long been used as a medium to give added weight to the concerns of the individual in the face of institutional power. I see the internet as a welcome extension of the media's vocation as a bullhorn to the powerless - especially when used with discernment, as I feel it has been here.
This is an unfortunate event, both for the students and for the Seminary which will incur further repair costs at such a time of financial stress.
Thank you, Nina, for bringing this topic to the attention of the wider Seminary community.
Lastly, it is delightfully ironic that Anonymous would use a "public forum" to advise you to address such concerns "in person." I'm going to laugh about this one all day long. I'm all for the Decalogue and Martin Luther and caring for the neighbor, but hypocritically preaching from behind a curtain is comic gold. Thank you Anon!
Thank you Nina, for this posting. This IS a topic that needs to be discussed publicly. Thank you for providing one forum in which to do that. I don't think I will ever forget the day Grant and I moved into 1588-C #110. I remember looking at the location, the hill, the sidewalk tipped so that anything flowing on it would run toward the apartment, rather than toward the opposite wall. I turned to Grant and said "do you think they've had problems with flooding?" "Naw, they would have thought of that" was his response. 5 months later our apartment flooded and we moved to a different apartment. It was then that we met the woman who had previously lived in 1588-C 110 who had also moved, because it had also flooded when she lived there. Apartment 110 has flooded 4 times that I am aware of (3 in the last 4 years) and who knows how many other times that I'm not aware of because this isn't discussed. There is a problem with apartments flooding in Burntvet. I think each one of us who has experienced this first hand has brought it up with the administration privately. That doesn't seem to be working. We need to publicly discuss solutions to this chronic problem. Why couldn't these apartments be converted into some sort of community space? We could set up a foosball table in one and a study lounge in another. I just think its a bad idea to continue to move people into apartments that we know will flood.
Actually, what I said was "Naw, they wouldn't rent it to us if there was any problem." I went on to suggest that these apartments have been here for quite a while, and so the amount of time would have certainly exposed any problems and, of course, moving students into an apartment that had a tendency to flood without warning them would be a bad idea for legal and PR reasons, much less any sense of responsibility to our neighbors that our faith may engender. It was only after the flood that I was told by another student that that time was the 7th in 12 years, which, if accurate, brings the grand total to 9 floods in 16years…that we are aware of. The berm was built after our flood, apparently new policies were put in place after Nina's, but the flooding remains (I think the spot is just too low, and the landscaping too funnel-like). I'm all about continuing to work on the problem, but let's not move people into those spaces until we have had at least 5 flood-free years. Thanks, Nina, for using your bullhorn to grab this particular bull by the horns! Thank you anon for the comic relief, (I'd tell you in person, but alas…) and to Mark and Brian for their wit and able defense, ya'all are my heroes! Peace of Christ to you all, and please Admin…don't move anyone else in until you have a few years of certainty that it won't happen again.
Again, to the residents of BVC 88-107, 109 and 110, my sincere apologies. While I am not directly responsible, you still deserve my regrets for such a disruptive event. As a head resident for Luther family housing it remains to be said that you have gracefully endured a rough welcome to the Burntvedt apartments. I appreciate your patience and kindness when you reserve the right to be angry.
To others who have endured the same in the past, thank you also. It has been my experience that you have only been tactful and courageous with your frustrations, complaints, and concerns. I am certainly encouraged by your peaceful efforts to make your voices heard.
Unfortunately there are no excuses for the flooding of these apartments; at the same time there is no one person or group of people to blame.
I had hoped that my own efforts to keep the drains open would have rewarded us with a flood-free year. However, with such rapid thaw and almost an inch of rain the flooding was nearly inevitable; it goes without saying that the most significant variable this year was the performance of the drainage system as a whole. As you have pointed out, Nina, the performance was VERY poor, even though the drainage system has been modified.
Also, that students were allowed to rent these apartments only adds to your case. With so very few options for on campus housing this year, I can assure everyone that these apartments were rented the VERY last. This, however, is also no excuse.
Please, whatever you do, do not stop making your voice heard. Silence and indifference are some of the world's toughest demons. It would do this whole community well to be pushed, for the sake of future residents and also for your own peace of mind. Keep in mind your capacity for generous grace.
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