Page 2 • Thursday^ January 19, 2006
NEWS
The Pendulum
New cleaning utilities save money, time for students
y~~.
Alicia Krawczak/ Photographer
Katie Reese puts a load of laundry in a new washing machine in Staley dormitory. These front-
loading washers have 25 percent more space than the previous ones.
Olivia Hubert-Alien
Reporter
While lugging bulging bags back into the
dorms after holiday break, many Elon stu
dents noticed a change had been made while
they were gone. Every dorm, except Jordan
Center, installed new washers and dryers.
The previous laundry machines varied in
ages, but one thing was a consensus among
students: they were in need of replacement.
During holiday break, crews worked hard to
get the new machines installed.
“We had a quality of life survey and
laundry facilities were one of the lowest
rated items. I think that really helped us get
the esteem to change what we had,” said Dr.
Jerrid Freeman, associate director of
Residence Life.
The new Energy-Star rated machines are
expected to save students time, but also
save the university money.
By switching to front-loading machines,
there is approximately 25 percent more
space in the washer for clothing. The old,
top-loading machines used an agitator in the
middle of the tub to create the wash action
while the new ones rely on a tumbling
motion, negating the need for an agitator.
The extra space will allow students to get
more laundry done per load.
An e-mail sent out to the student body
said the washers would save Elon thousands
of gallons of water each year. Though the
exact effect of the washers has yet to be
determined, it is something administrators
will be looking for in the future.
Elon contracts residence hall laundry
services to its provider, Mac-Gray Services,
so the university did not float the bill for the
new machines. Luckily, convincing Mac-
Gray Services to provide new machines was
not a hard task.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about
for a few months, and we decided that now
was the time to do it,” said Vickie Somers,
director of Auxiliary Services.
Students have received the new
machines very well.
“I like the washers because you use less
detergent so you save money,” freshman
Stefanie Meyers said. “The dryers are also
nice because they’re bigger.”
Using less detergent is an important
aspect of the new washers. A quarter cup is
the recommended amount. Using too much
detergent could result in over-sudsing,
which could ruin clothes and make a mess.
The size of the appliances amazed stu
dents as they attempted to push themselves
inside of the dryers on the first day back on
campus.
“One of my friends actually fit inside
one of the dryers,” said freshman Catherine
Parsons. “We wanted to shut the door and
leave her in there, but she wouldn’t let us.”
Contact Olivia Hubert-Allen at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
ELON UNIVERSITY
Students
BRING THIS COUPO^^
10% DISCOUNT
ON ALL SERVICE WORK PERFORMED
ON FORDS, LINCOLN MERCURY & MAZDAS
YIT
BURLINGTON |
660 HUFFMAN MILL RD 584-1701
SERVICE DEPT.
HOURS:
7:30-6:00
SAT. 8:00-1:00
P
P
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