Varner Hall, Oakland University’s building dedicated to the School of Music and various departments within the College of Arts and Science, has recently undergone renovations over the 2023 summer break to fix major problems. The biggest issue addressed during the renovation process was the poor soundproofing throughout the building, a problem that has yet to be solved.
While professors on the fourth floor of Varner Hall attempt to get work done in their offices, students on the third floor are in classes, playing and practicing instruments. Due to the poor soundproofing, faculty such as Dr. Peter Trumbore, the political science department chair, can hear the third-floor performances with clarity, as if they were practicing in the fourth-floor offices.
Despite measures being taken, professors have found no noticeable improvements in the soundproofing issue.
“It is a drag that the initial thing that we were told was that it would be resolved by the end of December, that we were told that it would be resolved over break,” Trumbore said. “Then, here we are now. It’s the first of February and we’re still having problems.”
Another issue found was sound traveling between the offices on the fourth floor. Trumbore noted that he can hear his colleagues from two doors away, talking to students or hosting an online meeting.
“I have heard my counterpart, the chair of the history department, having conversations with his colleagues, and some of those conversations have been about sensitive matters,” Trumbore said. “We should never be privy to that kind of stuff, and that information should not be shared with us.”
While the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has tested sound levels to make sure the sound does not surpass OSHA thresholds, Trumbore does not see that as an issue for the building.
“It’s never going to be loud enough to approach unsafe levels for us,” Trumbore said. “The bigger issue is that it would be like trying to work while somebody else is carrying on a conversation behind you that you’re not involved in. It’s loud enough to be disruptive and distracting. And it’s constant enough that it makes it hard for folks to be able to do their work here.”
The professors do not blame those on the third floor for the sound issues. However, the lack of adequate soundproofing has become such a nuisance that some only use their offices when necessary.
“Some faculty will come into the office just to teach their classes and go home,” Trumbore said. “They can’t do their research. They can’t focus on reading and class prep. They can’t focus on grading papers and things like that. It’s just too disruptive.”
After finding out the disappointing news of the renovations failing to meet expectations, Trumbore has contacted those in Wilson Hall and the Office of Provost. Despite the failure of the recent renovations, there still seems to exist an intention to fix the problem.
“They’re acknowledging that the problem does exist and has not been resolved,” Trumbore said. “There’s an intention to fix it, I just don’t know when that’s going to happen or what that fix is going to look like.”
