It’s commonly mistaken for a stain or dirt, but the black growth commonly found in bathroom grout throughout Lakeside Housing could be a cause for concern.

Students say a black mold that is difficult to remove with household cleaners has been present in Lakeside dorm rooms for several years. According to the Center for Disease Control’s website, exposure to indoor mold can cause respiratory problems, particularly for those suffering from asthma.

In interviews with more than 20 students, Lakeside residents reported that there was mold in dorms on numerous residence halls, including Townes, Judson, Ramsey, McBee, Chiles, and Haynesworth. Residents reported that the problem seemed to be worse on base levels.

Drew Kern, a freshmen living in Lakeside, said that he had seen the black mold in several rooms throughout the building.

“The rooms where black mold is growing in the grout always have the strongest odor,” he said. “Some rooms are worse than others, but it’s really a nuisance for everyone.”

Ron Thompson, Director of Housing and Residence Life, said that housing staff does a thorough cleaning of the residence halls each summer but explained that it is difficult to maintain the correct balance of air pressure, temperature, and moisture to prevent mold from growing.

But Thompson also said that housing did not receive any complaints about mold when students arrived on campus.

“We took particular steps this summer to ensure that there would be no surprises when students returned this fall,” he said. “We did not have a single complaint of mold on move-in day this year.”

Mold spreads through spores, which are sent airborne whenever the mold is physically disturbed. This can be especially problematic during the winter, when damp conditions and close quarters make it easy for the mold to spread to other areas, according to the Center for Disease Control’s website.

Several residents, who declined to give their names because of the sensitivity of the issue, said they had submitted maintenance requests to have the mold removed this year but that housing had not yet addressed the problem.