I was alarmed to read about the windowless design of Munger Hall's "pods” in Tyler Hayden’s article , as well as the subsequent article by Maria Cramer in the New York Times, which included quotes addressing criticism of the project from Charles Munger. The articles inspired me to read the information on the building offered on UC Santa Barbara's website , and I must say it is disheartening.
As a high school teacher, a parent of a UCSB transfer student, and also, as Mr. McFadden so eloquently put it, a "human being," I am intimately aware of the human need for natural light, fresh air, and open spaces — all of which are abundant on the California coast. It is particularly important for the young adult population that UCSB serves because they are in the throes of stress and anxiety upon entering college, and putting their emotional and physical well-being at the forefront is imperative.
Which, as it turns out, is a stated vision for UCSB: "Students’ health and well-being is embedded in the campus culture and valued as integral to everyone’s success at UC Santa Barbara and post-graduation."