Letter to the Editor: Poyda residents burned by fire alarms

Dear Editor:

I would like to voice my complaints about the recent Thursday evening fire drills at Poyda. I have sent a copy of this letter to all those employees of the University to whom this may be of interest. As all of you may well know, every Thursday evening around 1:00 a.m., a string of fire alarms are pulled. This has become a weekly event, which began on Sept. 27. Thursday, Oct. 18 was the fourth week in a row and by far the longest and worst yet.

I would think that with the recent tragedies at Seton Hall, this problem would have been quickly addressed and taken care of. The University claims that it has improved its fire safety procedures in the past year. Yet, do you recall the events surrounding the Seton Hall fires? The students did not exit their rooms due to the belief that it was just another prank fire alarm! Are we attempting to relive that event?

I know that the University spent a large amount of money installing new fire alarms last year. They are so advanced that Security can pinpoint the room in which one goes off, after which it can investigate why. It can also pinpoint the alarm that is pulled during a fire drill. This is your first clue in finding out who is pulling them!

Why are we not using this to find the person and stop the problem? Instead, two Security officers are sent to investigate the building. These two men or women go through each floor and check each room. I understand you want to make sure everyone has exited the building, but you should also try to figure out who is pulling the alarms. Meanwhile, Poyda residents are standing, freezing on the lawn waiting for the alarm to stop.

Occasionally, after the first two alarms go off, we receive a speech at the third fire alarm. This often consists of Security officers telling the crowd that if the alarm is pulled again, they will be forced to stand in the cold three times as long while they check each room.

What is hoped to be accomplished by these threats? Does the Security officer not realize that if the person pulling the alarm is standing there, he has done nothing but just given that person a new reason to pull it? Or does he believe that the perpetrator is one of the Poyda residents fuming over being woken up for the third time that night? Rather than threatening, Security officers should be working with the University to solve the problem.

Is the University ever going to begin this process? There are many things that could be done, should be done, yet are not being done. If Security can pinpoint the alarm that was pulled, why doesn’t it fingerprint the alarm? I do believe that there are laws concerning the pulling of false fire alarms, and I’m sure the Lawrence Police Department would gladly help you fingerprint the alarm.

Another easy way to solve the problem would be to change the alarms to the type that marks the person who pulled it. If the perpetrator was sprayed with ink, I think you would be able to find him or her and I’m sure other people would think twice about pulling one. Also, considering that the offense may be punishable by immediate expulsion or dismissal from the University, people may be more reluctant to pull it if they know they will get caught. Why have neither of these methods been implemented?  I would think that the University would want to find the person behind these incidents.

I know that the residents of Poyda would greatly appreciate an end to this weekly ritual. Many of us have early morning classes, which are becoming harder and harder to wake up for. Often, professors will schedule exams on Fridays. I know many people who have had problems on exams due to their lack of sleep the night before.

Also, the weather is getting colder as we approach winter, and more and more of us seem to be getting sick. I wonder if that could possibly be related to our standing in the cold for at least an hour each Thursday night. Finally, do you know what it is like to be climbing into bed at 2:30 a.m., so cold that all you want is to be under your warm blankets, and just as you get comfortable—not even 20 minutes since you climbed in—you’re getting up, woken up again, looking for your coat and keys again, to stand in the cold for 20 more minutes the fourth time that night? We all do, and we want it to end.

Each resident student pays $7,380 a year for the cost of room and board. Yet, as a result of the constant fire drills, many Poyda residents are sleeping in other people’s rooms one night a week in an effort to get a good night’s sleep. There is absolutely no reason for this to occur. We are not even able to sleep in the bed we are paying for! It was my understanding that the campus is supposed to provide a safe and secure environment which fosters the students’ educational growth. Yet, in light of these recent events, I am beginning to believe that the University does not feel the same way.

The fire alarm pulls are hindering our education by causing us to spend portions of our night outside when we should be sleeping, and breaking up our night’s sleep into small segments. Have we all forgotten how instrumental a good night’s sleep is to performing at one’s full ability? Students are not performing up to their ability, and some are even falling asleep in class. So, it seems to me that we are wasting our money paying for an education that is hindered by the University itself.

This is a problem that needs to be addressed and dealt with quickly. It has already gone on for three weeks too long. Changes need to be made in the effort to protect the students. If this continues to be ignored, what will happen when no one leaves during a real fire drill? The occurrence or prevention of a future tragedy is in your hands.

Michelle Marrazzo

Poyda Resident