What's Up With Those Holes Around Campus?
I, too, thought my previous investigation into my local steam pit would be a one-off post (link here). However, dear Blog Readers, the saga has continued, the drama has intensified, and the steam has thickened and multiplied. Truly, there is chaos on campus.The original Emwool hole was once merely a crack in the earth's crust. Definitely big enough to fall into, but only a singular traffic cone warned the world of its existence. Those were the golden days of the Emwool hole. Since then, things have changed drastically. First, as I previously reported, the fence and the poorly placed slab of wood blocked the hole from the world. Traffic cones became more abundant and artfully decorated the space within the fence. Now, the fence remains, but the questionable construction work has intensified. 
Recent image of the Emwool Hole
There is so much to unpack here. First off, the steam is now billowing in the direction of my home (Emwool, Woolley side obviously), and while that was all fun and games at first, I'm starting to question the effects of this steam on my fellow dorm residents and me. Let's be honest, I'm an open window kind of person, but how healthy can it be to have the remnants of my local steam pit drifting into my nostrils every night? I don't want to be a buzzkill for the steam pit, but it's not looking so good.Maybe you think I'm exaggerating. Honestly, there's a good chance I am, but let's look a bit closer at that first image. Obviously, whoever is working on the pit (have still never seen a person here) doesn't want the steam coming out. One can assume this from the industrial fan they have blowing into the pit as well as the plastic sheet cottage they set up. We should pause this post for a moment to commend the sheet cottage. For me, it brings back a bit of nostalgia for pillow fort days, with its quaint and spur-of-the-moment feel.Moving on, other important things to note are all the dead trees surrounding the pit which, could be because it's fall, but may also be from toxins released into the air. Who's to say for sure? Additionally, to the left of the steam pit, there's a clear pile of gas containers and miscellaneous metal. I can't confirm what these are for. However, I think it's safe to say that the giant pieces of metal highlight the severity of the problem.If this investigation hasn't worried you yet, let me present some more evidence.
This hole is not only an Emwool problem, as steam pits have appeared all over campus. While this one seems a bit more under control than my pit, it's certainly terrifying to have a ground chimney in Simmons quad. There was also a ground chimney/steam pit/ hole literally in the middle of the sidewalk near Sayles. Maybe I can't prove it, but I saw it. A friend of mine also apparently overhead some construction workers at that hole questioning what the smoke could be. Make of that what you will.My investigation goes to show how steam pits have become a campus-wide trend. Ultimately, I've realized that if we're going to stop these holes from conquering us, we have to conquer them. Here are some tips on how to best show your local steam pit you're in charge of the situation.
- Quit Juuling! Try the steam pit!
- Jump in it. Show it you're fearless.
- Use its heat as warmth during the impending winter.
- Pretend you conjured the smoke for a really cool magic trick.
- Treat it like a campfire. BYOS (Bring your own s'mores).
Images via Alisa Caira '22.