The Literature Building Cancer Cluster
Topic
Since 2000, over 10 women including professors and students, were diagnosed with breast cancer. Seven additional women have been diagnosed with alternate forms of cancer. In 2009, the university hired researchers to investigate the potential cases for this yet came to the conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence and dropped further investigations. A couple of years ago, the issue was addressed again by concerned grad students via an online petition to be moved to another location after a grad student was diagnosed with cancer. Despite numerous attempts to be moved, and other programs within the building relocating last year, literature students and faculty are still confined to a space that could endanger their health indefinitely.The elevators are speculated to be the root cause of the various diagnoses of cancer, however the research study concluded there was not sufficient evidence to support this. Since a reasoning for these diagnoses was never addressed and instead put on hold, people have taken measures to ensure they limit their time in the building. Many students and faculty are inconvenienced of the results of the study, and choose to take the stairs in lieu of risking their health. Disabled faculty and students however are forced to take the elevators despite potential exposure to EMF (Electromagnetic Fields).Various faculty members have their office hours in other locations in order to limit their presence at the building as well.
The building in general is neglected by the university and administration. The permits to the elevators are expired, the classrooms lack functioning air conditioning, and updated equipment for educational use. Despite numerous buildings dedicated to STEM majors being built quickly, literature students still have to risk their health due to the university's lack of urgency regarding this issue. The building accommodates students of over 10 majors, therefore a good portion of students are potentially being subject to cancer causing agents. It seems as though STEM majors are prioritized on campus, while other departments including the Literature department are forced to wait years until basic concerns of safety and health are addressed.
Creating this Documentary
I chose to focus on one student's perspective on the issue and combine her interview with various B-roll footage pertaining to the literature building. This was my first film creation, and I learned a lot about audio recording and editing which I had no previous knowledge of. Editing was tedious at times and I wished that I got more interviews with professors from the literature department but it all worked out in the end. It was important to me to take footage of the elevators and the expired permit in order to show viewers why students of the literature department are so concerned. As someone who is a Literature major and spent 4 years within the building, my health concerns me. Since I am graduating, I felt it was important to report on this issue for future literature students and staff.The significance of hearing an individual's story is that it engages the viewer and makes the documentary personable. I'm thankful for Grace and her willingness to speak out on such an important topic. I hope this educates and inspires people to combat this issue. Students should not fear for their health in an educational institution like UCSD.
Get Involved
Whether the administration claims that the evidence from previous studies are inconclusive, we can't ignore the fact that more than 17 people have been diagnosed with cancer within the span of a decade and that all of these people spent a lengthy portion of their careers in the literature building at UCSD. Ranging from respected faculty who have spent over 20 years in the department to grad students who have only spent a few, something caused them to get cancer and saying that it is a coincidence is a disservice to those in the literature department. In order to shed light on this issue, please contact the administration and ask the questions that many students and faculty have been asking for years. People have the right to know when their health is potentially as risk and students and faculty should be priority to relocate.
University of California EthicsHotline: (800) 403-4744
Resources
Literature Building Study and Final Report (2009)https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/resources/public-health/lit-building/index.html#Background
http://www-ehs.ucsd.edu/LBCI/Kheifets_Final_Report_LB_7-2009.pdf
