On Feb. 5, the NC State Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution regarding the University’s response to finding environmental contaminants in Poe Hall. The resolution, entitled Resolution 94, requests additional PCB testing, more transparency and free PCB screenings for those who may have been affected.

Student Senate Pro Tempore Taquan Dewberry, a second-year studying computer science and philosophy, and a sponsor of the bill said, “Essentially, this is supporting other students and campus as a whole, and trying to make sure that we live and learn in a healthy and safe environment. I don’t know many people that are opposed to that, but I’m looking forward to hearing discussion on it tonight.”

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are environmental contaminants dangerous to humans. According to the Environmental Protection Agnecy (EPA) the chemicals have been shown to cause cancer, reduced conception rates and other adverse effects on health.

In November of 2023 NC State closed Poe Hall, which hosted the College of Education and the Psychology department, on Nov. 17, 2023, due to dangerously high levels of PCBs. Currently, the University doesn’t expect to reopen the hall in the 2024-2025 school year and has not yet released a timeline for doing so.

Resolution 94 calls on NC State to perform extensive routine inspections, give those affected free serum PCB tests and make a plan for safe disposal of PCBs during the Poe Hall renovation as well as communicate with student leaders with updates.

The Student Senate meeting began with student comments, all of which revolved around R94. Ava Dandurand, a fourth-year student studying natural resources and member of the Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice was the first speaker.

“NC State has known about the presence of hazardous levels of PCBs in Poe Hall since 2018, but did not shut down the building until November 2023. That is five years of the administration knowing about toxic cancer causing chemicals and making the decision to not inform the community,” Dandurand said.

Eric Martineau, a fourth-year studying biology and environmental science, also spoke during the comment period. “I’m not angry at NC State. I’m not angry at Randy Woodson. I am heartbroken. I’m heartbroken about my school. I’m heartbroken by the administration, and I’m scared. I’m terrified. I do not want to get sick. This is not the future I want for myself,” he said.

Kendall Godwin, a first-year PhD student studying microbiology who spoke during the comment period, told The Nubian Message he came to help raise awareness for the issue. “The recurring issue of PCBs on campus is something that, honestly, everybody should be concerned about. So I come here basically before the student body, as a concerned citizen and a concerned member of the NC State community,” he said.

The bill didn’t have any opposition during the pro-con debate. Student Senator Stephanie Zalocan supported the bill, saying, “NC State is not just faculty and students, it’s so many people, and this affects literally everyone. And each incoming class keeps getting bigger and bigger, so it’s only going to keep affecting more and more people.”

Frankie Frink, a third-year PhD student studying philosophy, also supported the bill during the pro-con debate, speaking on how Poe Hall directly affected she. “I was diagnosed with lupus, and it is one of the things that I expressed to the University after this was announced, but I’ve never heard back from them,” Frink said.

Frink also explained, “Additionally, when I was working on my Masters, I would take my young son with me periodically, and he has, three years ago, been diagnosed with a very rare disease. He cannot have children,” she said. “I was six months pregnant when I graduated with my masters, and my son that I was pregnant with also has brain tumors, kidney tumors and seizures. Is there causation? I don’t know, but I would like to be tested, and I would like my filter to be tested.”

All 49 senators voted to pass the resolution.

Dandurand said they were happy with the result. “I have like, a moment of, like, full body chills, like, truly, I mean, it’s, it sounds kind of silly, but it because it’s just, like a student thing, but to see that that many people you know supported it, it’s just so like, it just makes me so happy, and me having to know that student body is actually concerned and actually does want our best interest, because sometimes it feels like the University doesn’t,” Dandurand said.

Martineau was also happy the bill was accepted, but said it was not the end. “This is exactly what we were hoping for. It’s a first step. To be honest, it’s not super binding. It’s really just a recommendation legislation. We are asking NC State to do something. But we have that, that inquiry, we have that demand in writing, it’s formal, it represents the students,” he said.

Martineau also asked for further work from NC State to address the issue, “And so I would want to make sure that I the NC State takes this as a lesson and works to become as not just transparent, but also proactive about it, because PCBs are just one part of the issue here on campus.”

Martineau also said new buildings on campus should be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)certified. LEED’s developer, the U.S. Green Building Council, says the certification is “a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.”

“I would ask that those buildings being built are LEED certified, making sure that all buildings all are sustainable, all building materials are sustainable so this should not be a problem that NC State ever has to face again,” Martineau said.

When asked about her ultimate hope for the issue of PCBs on campus, Dandurand said, “I hope NC State addresses all buildings, tests every single building on this campus built before 1990. I hope that they actually talk to the victims of Poe Hall and try to resolve the actual issues. Because I’ve heard from multiple people, and I actually heard in that room that the University has not contacted them back.”

The resolution must be signed by Student Body President Allison Markert before it officially passes. If passed, the Student Government will officially recommend that the University follow the resolution’s suggestions.

Official updates regarding Poe Hall can be found on NC State’s Poe Hall updates page. Frequently asked questions, their current progress and support are available.