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Changes
to fire policy linger over dorm blaze HACKENSACK, N.J.— Like hundreds of other Seton Hall University students, I see it every day. It has become a gathering place for students who feel like taking a cigarette break, throwing a football, or just talking to their friends. The Boland Hall Memorial Garden, dedicated to the three students who died in the fire that began on the third floor of our dormitory, is a constant reminder. Open in September, the garden is nothing more than a circle of benches on a brick circle with a granite stone. The seal bears only one word, but the message is as powerful as it is simple: Remember. Two years after the fire, life goes on in Three North, the wing of the building in which the blaze started. The lounge is a place for students to study, talk on the phone, or use their computers. Among the freshly painted walls and brand new furniture, it's hard to believe that this was once the site of tragedy.
"Nobody really talks about the fire," said William Pollak, a freshman and resident of Three North. "It's never really been brought up." When asked how he feels living near the site, he replied, "Of course, it's terrible that it happened. But it's in the past, and everyone knows how safe it is now." Amanda Schmeltzer, a freshman and Boland resident, agreed. "The fire was sad, but that's the past," she said. "I have full faith in Boland Hall. I'm completely comfortable living there." After the fire, the safety of all residence halls on campus became a bigger concern for the university. Sprinkler systems were installed in Boland and Aquinas halls, the two dorms that had not already been equipped, and protection systems were expanded in the other residence buildings. New limits were placed on holiday lights, halogen lamps, candles, space heaters, and extension cords in dorm rooms. "It seems like everything under the sun is a fire hazard," Schmeltzer said. "And I really do understand. It's just frustrating that we can't do things to our rooms like other schools can, like Christmas lights." Students are not permitted to hang items from the ceiling because of the prominent sprinkler pipes that snake across. In addition, students are told to be cautious with the three sprinkler heads in their rooms _ one in each closet and one that hangs from the ceiling in the center of the room. "When I first moved in, the RA (resident assistant) told me that the sprinkler heads were really sensitive," Pollak said. "He made it sound like if I turned out the light switch too fast, they could go off." Eric Mochnacz, a resident assistant on campus, said all students are told that a sprinkler head produces 35 gallons of water per minute. "If a student accidentally or intentionally sets a sprinkler head off for a non-fire emergency, the student may be held responsible for all damage it causes and may face disciplinary action or arrest," he said. There have been no incidents in Boland this year in which sprinklers were set off. "Now I know that as long as you don't smoke in your room, or try to tamper with the things, they're perfectly fine," Pollak said. Students who
violate any fire safety rules face stiff penalties. Sanctions range
from a $250 fine to university disciplinary action, depending on
the severity of the offense. In the days after the fatal fire, students repeatedly told reporters there were so many false alarms at Boland Hall that they often ignored them. When asked whether the university has changed the way fire drills are conducted, Mochnacz responded, "I think the students take them more seriously." |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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