“We are deeply faced with several challenges this session. What’s going on?” That was a student’s reaction to the numerous and unending challenges facing the hall this semester, as things have not been unfolding as it ought to be.
It’s already eight weeks after resumption and it seems issues keep piling up in the hall from the lack of water, flooded bathrooms, electrical malfunctions, low availability of cleaners and the recent fecal debacle at the Zik river. Every week seems to churn out a new burden for Zikites to endure. The situation of things calls into question the activities of the hall management and the administrators
Water debacle
Water problems have now become a constant feature with the reoccurring issues not looking like there is going to be a permanent solution in the nearest future. Even with over 40 tanks in the hall there are still water tanks that are in active and not in use.
One would recall that the water tank adjacent to B block and C block was repaired and announced to be back in service four weeks into the semester, four weeks later it would appear we have returned back to status quo as the tank has remained unproductive without any explanation given for its inactiveness.
The borehole tank behind A block has only one tap running out of five, while the only working tap is also broken. With no sign of repairs coming soon, students have to make do with one broken tap which they have to queue up for. The recurring water issues seems to be a permanent feature of Zikhall with no final solution for the foreseeable future.
Electrical malfunctions
The semester has witnessed a lot of electrical malfunctions in the hall that have been unprecedented in previous sessions. The height of the whole issue came when the whole floor didn’t have electricity for weeks. The electrical malfunction is a recurring problem that is rooted in the use of appliances that have adverse effects on the light in the hall.
It was no surprise that the Hall management authorized a secret raid on every room in the hall in search of Hot plates which is believed to be a major cause of electrical malfunctions in the hall.
A total of 65 hot plates was reportedly recovered during the operation which alludes to high rate of the use of the appliance in the hall.
Flooded bathrooms and low amount of cleaners
There have been constant complaints about the state of the bathrooms and toilets in the hall ranging from flooded bathrooms, to busted and leaking pipes and the stagnant state of the urinary system in the hall. These issues have made it difficult for students to use the facilities and created a source of burden for them.
The issues of flooded bathrooms have been a recurring experience in Zikhall and it is partly caused by the usage of the students who deposit substances not meant for the drainage system of the bathrooms. This has led to an increase In the case of flooded bathrooms and stagnant urinary system in the hall.
The low amount of cleaners is also an added issue which has culminated in the bathroom and toilet problems in the hall. The few amount of cleaners saddled with the work of cleaning is not enough and although they are doing their best, the lapses are shown in the resulting issues that keep on springing up about the state of the bathrooms and toilets in the hall.
Fecal obstruction debacle
Last week saw another ugly incident rear its head when Zikites woke up to the entrance of the Zik bridge flooded by water from a fecal deposit from a damaged soakaway around the JCR. This new issue has made it quite difficult for people to frequent the area, as they pass through climbing over stones and platforms as a form bridge over the flooded area.
The Zik river bridge which serves as a major route in and out of the hall, is used largely frequented by students from not only the Zikhall but other halls who pass through the hall as a route to their various hall’s. So the new development can potentially cause health hazards for the students that frequently use the area.
In a chat with the hall warden about the cause and the response to the sewage flood, he had this to say “We have contacted the USLB and they said it is not their duty but maintenance. When I contacted the Maintenance Director, he said they will fix it but they will need labourers who will come from outside to fix it. They will be paid some amount of money. The hall management cannot afford the money to fix the stuff. I will get in touch with the Dean of students on the problem”. He assured that the problem will be looked into and resolved before the end of the week.
Conclusion
It must be said that this semester has been one of increased issues and challenges in the hall. The problems seems to be unending with no final solution applied to this issues and this is creating a cause for concern among the student residents with silent grumbles and discontent about the state of things in the hall, and there is a need for the hall management and administration to take proactive actions to tackle this issues and proffer lasting solutions to the recurring problems.
