Oberhear

Oberhear aims to address an issue that is not frequently brought up in conversation when it comes to discussing student issues on college campuses: noise pollution in dorms. Noise (defined as unwanted or distrubing sound) in general is not talked about as much as it probably should be - research shows that noise contributes to mental health symptoms, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and is even one of the top reasons that students lack sleep in college. Yet many treat it as an annoyance rather than something that may actually be taking a toll on their daily lives.

Oberlin's "traditional housing" dorms are listed under the "dorms" page, each with a grade that categorizes the severity of noise pollution. An 'A' grade indicates the finest in Oberlin dorms noise-wise: living in one of these dorms wouldn't have a drastic effect on mental health or productivity. A 'B' grade indicates distinct a dorm that may not always be extremely noisy, but has the potential to be interruptive. A 'C' grade dorm should be avoided if noise is a concern for you: these dorms have poor soundproofing and a culture that enables noise.