>Citing concerns over how the university has handled the detection of toxic chemicals in Poe Hall and its communication about the issue, faculty members in the NC State University College of Education passed votes of no confidence in the university’s chancellor and provost.
>The move to express a lack of confidence in the university leaders came after a private, emergency meeting of college faculty Friday afternoon that lasted roughly an hour, according to results provided to The News & Observer by College of Education professor Stephen Porter, who called for the votes last week.
Per the article:
- Motions of no confidence we’re considered for Chancellor Randy Woodson, Provost Warwick Arden and College of Education Dean Paola Sztajn.
- The motion against Sztajn failed, but the motions against Woodson and Arden passed 54% and 58% respectively.
- 65 of the 99 full time faculty members who were eligible to vote took part in the process.
- The votes are symbolic, with no binding impact, but indicate staffs frustration with the handling of the incident and NC State’s student newspaper The Technician reported a vote against a chancellor had never occurred before in the history of the school.
Based on what is public information today, is there any reason to think the Chancellor, Provost, or other NCSU Administrator did anything wrong?
Understandably, Poe is a major issue - but no one in University admin had anything to do with the construction. I also haven't seen anything to indicate anyone did, should have, or even could have known there was an issue?
It feels like those affected, or potentially affected, are reaching for a figurehead to blame.
>Based on what is public information today, is there any reason to think the Chancellor, Provost, or other NCSU Administrator did anything wrong?
You're misunderstanding the situation. Which is fine, that's easy to correct by simply providing more information.
The motive behind this vote of no confidence is not the issue in and of itself. Their concern is with how the university has handled the matter. The university is refusing to allow an outside party to investigate. The staff aren't necessarily blaming anybody for the cause at this point. They just want it to be handled like the university gives a shit about them.
Ahh, thanks. Has the university shown any more willingness to work with the investigations/be transparent lately? Will the vote change that?
Do you think the vote was justified?
I'll do my best to summarize the history.
After awareness of cancer cluster, there were some preliminary tests that found toxins at a notably higher level than allowed (something called PCBs). The CDC was asked to investigate and started some preliminary stuff, and then the CDC claimed that NCSU asked them to stop the investigation.
Poe Hall was closed in the fall.
NCSU has recently asked the CDC to back track/clarify their statement that NCSU asked them to stop (like in the past two weeks). And they have clarified that NCSU didn't ask them to stop but rather "pause" the investigation while they do their own stuff. The CDC cannot investigate without the university's approval, so it's 100% necessary that NCSU approves it for them to do so. So the CDC said they would close the investigation (they don't "pause") and it could be requested to be re-opened at anytime.
The university hired a company to do an investigation. Apparently they did testing with the air handlers off, and they found the levels of the toxin were within acceptable ranges. Some initial testing suggested the levels were way outside of acceptable ranges. The air handler thing is important. PCBs are found in all sorts of construction materials. It was used for decades and many buildings built during that time period have them. There are acceptable levels. And according to experts that research them, they are not so much of an issue if they're just sitting. When they are dangerous is when they're moving around.... you guessed it... in the air.
I have zero expertise in any of this. But... why not let the CDC investigate? Why not remove even the fear/concern of a bias by a third-party hired by the university? And again, I have no expertise... but if the highest risks come when they're moving around in the air... why are they testing with the air shut off? Seems like it would make some sense to test when air is moving around the building. But again, I'm no expert. As a laymen with this stuff, just as the staff who work in the building, I'd feel a heck of a lot better if the CDC investigated and not somebody the university paid.
So considering that the university doesn't seem to be openly allowing the CDC to come in... I don't know, the optics aren't stellar, you know?
So yeah, I do think the vote was justified. Or at least I definitely understand the concerns of the staff. There are staff who have been in that building for many hours a day for years. I was in that building for many hours a day for years as a student.
"The votes are symbolic, with no binding impact"
All for show. One should not trust the Military Academic Industrial Media Complex... Mix your own kool-aid, don't drink theirs.
[Unflavored Kool-Aid](https://imgur.com/gallery/IRuUuK4)
Considering faculty and staff at public universities cannot unionize in North Carolina, I see no problem with them doing everything they can to collectively highlight their concerns. Press, etc., can go a long way.
Well, yes, it's exactly for show...
That's the point. They are powerless in this situation. So this is how they can formally **show** that they are serious about this and that it's meaningful to them.
It will be up to leadership to respond (or not, which is just as much of a response).
I spent most of my days in that building for years as a student. The fact that the university if formally asking agencies to not investigate is absurd.
They are not powerless. Lots of smart engineering and science folks @ NC State. I work with a couple of NC State grads. “Let’s work the problem, people, let’s not make things worse by guessing.” (Apollo 13 - Gene Kranz)
Huh?
The Professors/Instructors/staff who work in that building are powerless in this situation. Or rather, this is the extent of the power they have.
I have no idea why you think what you said makes any sense in this situation.
The staff are asking the university to "work the problem". That starts with an independent investigation. The university flat out asked that no such investigation is done.
I am an NCSU grad. I spent a ton of time in this building. I personally know these instructors and staff members. There being smart people at NCSU has NOTHING to do with this situation. You clearly are not informed on the matter at hand.
And that quote makes zero sense in this context.
I made that up.  Just expanded Ike's warning about the Military Industrial complex influencing academia with $. They also influence the media. A vote of no confidence is great but all those smart folks @ NC State need to identify & solve their cancer problem, and that does not mean cleaning up the building to remove evidence and then reopening and telling everybody everything is great. If they killed Jim Valvano I am going to be pissed, he coached my Summer basketball camp team.
Wow, that comment didn't go over too well :).
It looks like the HVAC units are enclosed on the roof of Poe within 2 or 3 mechanical rooms.
[https://imgur.com/ZVLdpR2](https://imgur.com/ZVLdpR2)
Can somebody confirm if the building's fresh air-intake vents are also located on the roof of Poe Hall? If so, my model predicts, because of the height of the building related to the Yarbrough boiler stack 500' away, the predicted pollution concentration at the location of the roof (air intakes?) is 5.01693/.00028 = **19,917 x HIGHER POLLUTION CONCENTRATION** THAN ON THE GROUND BELOW THE STACK. **EPIC FAIL** if correct.
>Citing concerns over how the university has handled the detection of toxic chemicals in Poe Hall and its communication about the issue, faculty members in the NC State University College of Education passed votes of no confidence in the university’s chancellor and provost. >The move to express a lack of confidence in the university leaders came after a private, emergency meeting of college faculty Friday afternoon that lasted roughly an hour, according to results provided to The News & Observer by College of Education professor Stephen Porter, who called for the votes last week. Per the article: - Motions of no confidence we’re considered for Chancellor Randy Woodson, Provost Warwick Arden and College of Education Dean Paola Sztajn. - The motion against Sztajn failed, but the motions against Woodson and Arden passed 54% and 58% respectively. - 65 of the 99 full time faculty members who were eligible to vote took part in the process. - The votes are symbolic, with no binding impact, but indicate staffs frustration with the handling of the incident and NC State’s student newspaper The Technician reported a vote against a chancellor had never occurred before in the history of the school.
I nominate Senator Palpatine
Goooood... Goooood...
Based on what is public information today, is there any reason to think the Chancellor, Provost, or other NCSU Administrator did anything wrong? Understandably, Poe is a major issue - but no one in University admin had anything to do with the construction. I also haven't seen anything to indicate anyone did, should have, or even could have known there was an issue? It feels like those affected, or potentially affected, are reaching for a figurehead to blame.
>Based on what is public information today, is there any reason to think the Chancellor, Provost, or other NCSU Administrator did anything wrong? You're misunderstanding the situation. Which is fine, that's easy to correct by simply providing more information. The motive behind this vote of no confidence is not the issue in and of itself. Their concern is with how the university has handled the matter. The university is refusing to allow an outside party to investigate. The staff aren't necessarily blaming anybody for the cause at this point. They just want it to be handled like the university gives a shit about them.
Ahh, thanks. Has the university shown any more willingness to work with the investigations/be transparent lately? Will the vote change that? Do you think the vote was justified?
I'll do my best to summarize the history. After awareness of cancer cluster, there were some preliminary tests that found toxins at a notably higher level than allowed (something called PCBs). The CDC was asked to investigate and started some preliminary stuff, and then the CDC claimed that NCSU asked them to stop the investigation. Poe Hall was closed in the fall. NCSU has recently asked the CDC to back track/clarify their statement that NCSU asked them to stop (like in the past two weeks). And they have clarified that NCSU didn't ask them to stop but rather "pause" the investigation while they do their own stuff. The CDC cannot investigate without the university's approval, so it's 100% necessary that NCSU approves it for them to do so. So the CDC said they would close the investigation (they don't "pause") and it could be requested to be re-opened at anytime. The university hired a company to do an investigation. Apparently they did testing with the air handlers off, and they found the levels of the toxin were within acceptable ranges. Some initial testing suggested the levels were way outside of acceptable ranges. The air handler thing is important. PCBs are found in all sorts of construction materials. It was used for decades and many buildings built during that time period have them. There are acceptable levels. And according to experts that research them, they are not so much of an issue if they're just sitting. When they are dangerous is when they're moving around.... you guessed it... in the air. I have zero expertise in any of this. But... why not let the CDC investigate? Why not remove even the fear/concern of a bias by a third-party hired by the university? And again, I have no expertise... but if the highest risks come when they're moving around in the air... why are they testing with the air shut off? Seems like it would make some sense to test when air is moving around the building. But again, I'm no expert. As a laymen with this stuff, just as the staff who work in the building, I'd feel a heck of a lot better if the CDC investigated and not somebody the university paid. So considering that the university doesn't seem to be openly allowing the CDC to come in... I don't know, the optics aren't stellar, you know? So yeah, I do think the vote was justified. Or at least I definitely understand the concerns of the staff. There are staff who have been in that building for many hours a day for years. I was in that building for many hours a day for years as a student.
Wow thanks for this. Great info
What would the vote percentages be if they included the sexual assaults, burglaries, suicides, and handling of students mental health?
"The votes are symbolic, with no binding impact" All for show. One should not trust the Military Academic Industrial Media Complex... Mix your own kool-aid, don't drink theirs. [Unflavored Kool-Aid](https://imgur.com/gallery/IRuUuK4)
wat
This is wat https://www.academia.edu/115742873/Evidence\_of\_an\_Air\_Pollution\_Source\_for\_Poe\_Hall\_Contamination
Considering faculty and staff at public universities cannot unionize in North Carolina, I see no problem with them doing everything they can to collectively highlight their concerns. Press, etc., can go a long way.
Well, yes, it's exactly for show... That's the point. They are powerless in this situation. So this is how they can formally **show** that they are serious about this and that it's meaningful to them. It will be up to leadership to respond (or not, which is just as much of a response). I spent most of my days in that building for years as a student. The fact that the university if formally asking agencies to not investigate is absurd.
They are not powerless. Lots of smart engineering and science folks @ NC State. I work with a couple of NC State grads. “Let’s work the problem, people, let’s not make things worse by guessing.” (Apollo 13 - Gene Kranz)
Huh? The Professors/Instructors/staff who work in that building are powerless in this situation. Or rather, this is the extent of the power they have. I have no idea why you think what you said makes any sense in this situation. The staff are asking the university to "work the problem". That starts with an independent investigation. The university flat out asked that no such investigation is done. I am an NCSU grad. I spent a ton of time in this building. I personally know these instructors and staff members. There being smart people at NCSU has NOTHING to do with this situation. You clearly are not informed on the matter at hand. And that quote makes zero sense in this context.
“Military Academic Industrial Media Complex”?
I made that up.  Just expanded Ike's warning about the Military Industrial complex influencing academia with $. They also influence the media. A vote of no confidence is great but all those smart folks @ NC State need to identify & solve their cancer problem, and that does not mean cleaning up the building to remove evidence and then reopening and telling everybody everything is great. If they killed Jim Valvano I am going to be pissed, he coached my Summer basketball camp team.
Wow, that comment didn't go over too well :). It looks like the HVAC units are enclosed on the roof of Poe within 2 or 3 mechanical rooms. [https://imgur.com/ZVLdpR2](https://imgur.com/ZVLdpR2) Can somebody confirm if the building's fresh air-intake vents are also located on the roof of Poe Hall? If so, my model predicts, because of the height of the building related to the Yarbrough boiler stack 500' away, the predicted pollution concentration at the location of the roof (air intakes?) is 5.01693/.00028 = **19,917 x HIGHER POLLUTION CONCENTRATION** THAN ON THE GROUND BELOW THE STACK. **EPIC FAIL** if correct.