Got it done. It also has to be the main character, your avatar, that needs to be selected in order for the cursor to change when you hover it over the right object. This was the problem. The cursor doesn't change if you have some other merc selected. ALTHOUGH it could've been the zoom level, too. I usually keep rather zoomed out view, and that's why the cursor change may have not triggered. Also, upon zooming in on the room, I noticed the light switches were operational. Go figure
Wonder what else I've missed.
Take notes, kids.