Students Encounter Elevator Disruptions In Mertz Hall and Mundelein Center

Multiple elevators were inoperable in Mertz Hall for three days last weekend, according to Abbie Dyson, a first-year special education major. Dyson said because the elevators weren’t working, it made it difficult to climb the stairs to get to her dorm located on the 15th floor.  

“My whole floor was complaining about having to go up 15 flights of stairs,” Dyson said. “But it wasn’t that bad because no-one on my floor had a disability that forced them to use the elevator.”

All three elevators in Mertz Hall broke down starting on Saturday, Sept. 10, with the elevators being operable sometime on Monday. One of the elevators in the Mundelein Center for Fine Arts and performing arts also broke down in the same week the Mertz elevators did. 

First-year environmental science major Bishop Hankel said she was annoyed by the situation. 

“There was a huge line because there was only one elevator,” Hankel, 18, said. “The line was coming into the lobby. There were people who took the elevator and got off on the lower floors, it didn’t feel fair because I had to go all the way to the 19th floor.”

Hankel was also disappointed it took three days to repair the two remaining broken elevators. 

“It’s annoying and makes people late to their classes,” Hankel said. “I would like to live in a building with working, safe elevators.”

Mertz Hall hasn’t been the only building on Campus to experience elevator issues. In April, students reported accounts of elevators in the Mundelein Center of Fine and Performing Arts dropping several floors. At the time, Henning confirmed issues but denied any reports of dropping elevators, The Phoenix reported.

Erin Chim, a sophomore theatre major, said she was confused on why there is still a problem with the elevators on campus.  

“I think it was inevitable that the elevators in Mertz and Mundelein would break down,” Chim said. “But I hope it wasn’t something that Loyola did or was supposed to be doing for the safety of the students.”

Senior Associate Vice President for Facilities Kena Henning didn’t respond to the request for an interview by The Phoenix. The cause of these elevator malfunctions is still unknown.