Sprinkler
system accident in residence hall
Alyssa
Famuliner, Posted Sept. 21, 2006
During
many MU students’ first week of school, their dorm lives
were interrupted by loud sounding alarms. Some of the students
weren’t allowed into their rooms for up to three hours.
Since the incident has been narrowed down to one person, consequences
are being discussed along with who will be footing the bill
for the damage.
At 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, a student on the second floor
of Center Hall hung an item of clothing on a sprinkler in
the bathroom. This resulted in setting off the sensitive sprinkler
system. According to Frankie Minor, Director of Residential
Life, the students in the residence halls followed fire safety
procedures and evacuated the building. The fire department
quickly appeared on the scene, investigated and declared the
dorms safe.
“While they [fire fighters and staff] were making repairs,
we tried to identify as quickly as we could who were the residents
of these rooms,” said Minor. “We brought them
into a safer area of a different building and explained to
them what was going on,” said Minor. Faculty helped
to relay information about the damage done to each student’s
room. This helped the students to have a better awareness
of the extent of the damage.
Fortunately, the showers were able to drain some of the water.
According to Minor however, the rest of the water filled the
floor and leaked out of the bathroom, entering three to four
rooms on each side of the hallway. Water began to leak into
the technology lounge directly below the scene of the accident.
Most of the damage was contained to the suites’ floors
and the computer lab.
“We are in the process of collecting information from
students about what they may have had damaged. Information
and Access Technology Services told me that the value of their
loss [in the computer lab] would be estimated a little bit
under $3000,” said Minor.
Students who were affected by the accident, said that the
situation was handled well said Minor. Erin Higginbotham,
a sophomore and resident of a suite that was flooded said,
“The custodians came by [Saturday morning] and offered
to clean up any water damage. All the floor was dry but any
bags or rugs on the floor were still all wet. At that point
you just had to wait for them to dry.”
There is a controversy now presented about who will pay for
the damage. “In sense, the University is technically
not responsible for this situation. The insurance may choose
to compensate the students [for the damage]. However, since
there was an individual who was identified for being responsible,
again accidentally responsible, it may come back to that person
being responsible. This insurance company is working with
that,” Minor said.
Students are offered a renters insurance policy when moving
into a residence hall. If a student chooses not to take out
this insurance policy, then there is clause in their parents’
home owners insurance than covers them. However, the deductible
for home owners insurance is much more expensive than the
renters insurance.
In the future, Minor hopes that students come to college knowing
better than to hang items on fire sprinklers. Catherine Blair,
another resident of the new residence halls, said, “It’s
pretty obvious that you shouldn’t mess with the fire
system. If you are old enough to go to college then you are
old enough to know better.”
