As the editor in chief of The Maroon, I try to stay impartial and unbiased towards most things on campus. Unfortunately, I can’t stay silent any longer. 

I’ve had a mixture of emotions towards the Danna Center renovations. I like the study nooks, but I miss the community the Starbucks Lounge fostered. The new Market options are delightful, but the lighting in the Orleans Room is harsh. One thing, however, has pushed me over the edge and broken the proverbial camel’s back. 

The new door handles. 

Installed months after many of the other renovations were completed, the outside door handles struck me by surprise. They are the same shade of metal gray that the last ones were, but now they’re an elongated, vertical, rectangular shape instead of their old soft and round handle. Where once they were soft and welcoming to hold, now they are a jagged and hostile greeting every time I enter the Danna Center. 

“The handles are so sharp and uncomfortable. It’s like giving a handshake to a straight razor,” said Chris Maldonado, a senior environmental studies major. 

I’ve always taken good care of my hands. My nails are consistently manicured, I use cuticle oils, exfoliate, and lather lotion every night. I would even go as far to say that I have a reputation for my baby-soft hands. And, considering I spend 60% of my waking hours on a computer, a future with carpal tunnel undoubtedly awaits me. I’ve got to protect my hands while I can, and these door handles just aren’t doing it for me. 

“They are genuinely the bane of my existence. I do not go into the Danna Center unless it is absolutely necessary,” said Em Bay, a junior sociology major. 

Every day, I dread my walk through the Danna Center. I used to feel excited to walk through the heart of Loyola’s campus; passing my friends, spending a moment in the air conditioning, and grabbing a snack before continuing my day. Now, I’d rather sacrifice my mid-afternoon snack than attempt to conquer the pain these handles bring. 

I’m disappointed that our beloved university would sacrifice their student’s wellbeing for a new, modern design. I used to rave and applaud Loyola. Now when people ask me if I enjoy college, I just look down at my blistered, bloody hands, and shed a single tear.