Soggy Shoes and Slippery Sidewalks

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 How recent rain has caused student life to go down the drain.

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By Ella Bush & Griffin Stenzel 
Guest Columnists

Rainy days at Saint Mary’s College of California often bring more than just wet umbrellas and damp shoes.The recent rain storms have once again highlighted the campus’s ongoing struggles with flooding and water damage. From dorms such as Justin Hall to heavily used buildings such as Madigan and Dante, students have become familiar with inconveniences that accompany rain. While facilities staff work hard to manage the problems, lasting improvements will require an increase in funding. The rainy weather sets the stone for Saint Mary’s lush, vibrant campus appearance, but the aging infrastructure can often struggle to keep up. Students have reported leaks, that facilities staff address the best as they can with limited resources. 

Saint Mary’s campus is located in small town Moraga and it can sometimes be harder to see the greater implications of weather beyond our campus. In fact “flooding from extreme precipitation and other climate impacts can cause billions of dollars of damage to transportation infrastructure annually” (US EPA). Not only does the weather impact the campus infrastructure but it also has impacts on buildings and places of travel around the world. The US EPA encourages us to go more green, and become more climate smart to prevent these instances of extreme weather. 

Saint Mary’s is no stranger to the rainy weather. The campus is equipped with an observatory designed to look up at the universe above, but also measure rainfall. The Geissberger Observatory has its own online database where rainfall information can be accessed. The Observatory “is home to a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 weather station attached to a 20' Aluma Tower M-6 MPT tower” (Geissberger). A daily weather report is available through the observatory website. Many students question why the campus always seems unprepared for rain if it is constantly getting new data and information from the observatory's weather tools. 

“My freshman year, Justin, which is where I lived,  flooded,” recalled Gia Otatti. “I was on the second floor too, and it was seeping in through the walls and windows, so that was crazy.”

Flooding isn’t limited to dorms, either. Fiona Samuelson shared how heavy rain frequently causes problems near the athletic building. “I always notice when it floods by Madigan Hall,” she said. “They put out sandbags near one of the doors to try and stop the water from flooding a drain, but it never works, and then they have to always have a pump outside of it trying to pump the water out. Usually, there’s a big puddle there, so that kinda sucks for all the people trying to use the building.”

Even indoor spaces aren’t immune to leaks. “In Dante Hall, the last time it rained there was a leak in the middle of the hallway with a bucket underneath to catch the water.” Samuelson added that “my friend’s dorm flooded in De La Salle from the rain.”

For some students, the challenge isn’t just navigating puddles and leaks, it’s staying dry at all. Cecilia Espinoza noted that many students struggle without proper rain gear. “Many kids on campus don’t have umbrellas,” she explained. “If the bookstore could supply those, it would be better for students to get around campus in the rain. If you walk from the Agenos without an umbrella or hoodie, you’re gonna get soaked out there.”


Despite the challenges, the rain also brings an undeniable beauty to campus. The trees glisten with fresh rain as the hills brim with vibrant greenery. Yet as it affects the buildings and walkways, Saint Mary’s could benefit from improved drainage systems and better maintenance. It’s vital to appreciate the dedication facilities staff have to manage these issues, helping minimize damage as they place sandbags and set up buckets wherever needed. While facilities staff work tirelessly to minimize the impact of flooding, they can only do so much without broader financial support. Investing in better drainage systems, and even something as simple as having a well stocked supply of umbrellas at the bookstore, could improve students’ day to day experiences.