Students Shun Building After Cancer Reported

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--Some Rutgers University students are afraid to attend classes in a 12-year-old research building after six workers in the building contracted a rare form of skin cancer and 40 more employees reported ailments ranging from frequent headaches to tuberculosis.

After a state department of health study, the administration condemned conditions in parts of the building, known as Smith Hall, but said that overall the building is safe. The administration has allocated $500,000 for emergency repairs of the building.

The state study of employee ailments found, in addition to the skin cancer cases, ten cases of ovarian cysts, four of breast cysts, five of cervical polyps, eight of fibroids, 12 of anemia, five of tuberculosis, ten of pneumonia, 13.of bronchitus and 15 of hay fever.

Some faculty and staff suspect the source of the illnesses is a research institute in the building that uses hormones to experiment with animal reproductive behavior.

Sewage Seepage

Lillian Robbins, a psychology professor whose office is located directly below the institute, said raw sewage has at times dripped into her office through the ceiling.

Two weeks ago, staff, students and faculty demonstrated in front of Smith Hall, chanting, "Stop the cancer; we want answers."

No Room Changes

Although there is space to move some of the classes to new buildings, the administration has refused to permit classroom changes.

"Once we grant one request, we'll have to grant all of them," Associate Provost Gene Vincenti said, "and sooner or later we'll run out of space. That won't be fair."