South Carolina college students faced at least 2,400 possible cases of mold in their dorms during the past two years, a crush of complaints and repairs that highlight a growing local and national problem: college living spaces that make students sick.
In complaint after complaint, students said moldy dorms triggered asthma attacks and allergies, a new Post and Courier-led Uncovered investigation found.
Students said they found mold on their desks, mattresses, couches and even their hats. They watched mushrooms sprout from baseboards and over their heads. They
South Carolina college students faced at least 2,400 possible cases of mold in their dorms during the past two years, a crush of complaints and repairs that highlight a growing
USC students reported hundreds of instances of mold growth in on-campus dorms, detailing it crawling on their dressers, ceilings and pillows.
Most mold outbreaks occurred in older dorms, prompting allergies, continuous coughing and asthma attacks. USC's maintenance system is outdated, meaning it can't efficiently track or analyze student complaints.