2008 Woodie Awards
Fire safety must remain prominent campus issue
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Editorials
Today marks the second anniversary of the tragic house fire that claimed the lives of three Miami University students. In the time since this tragedy took place, the memories of Steve, Kate and Julie have been preserved around campus, most recently in the form of a poignant plaque and flower bed in front of King Library. While it is important to remember the students whose lives were cut so heartbreakingly short, it is also essential that students continue to consider the lessons regarding fire safety that can be taken from this event. In light of this solemn second anniversary, students must remember to be responsible and to consciously take fire safety into their own hands in order to ensure that the future catastrophes are averted.
Importantly, students living in off-campus housing should pressure their landlords to fix potential fire hazards. Students living in older houses have related stories regarding open wiring and out of code fixtures. While it is commendable that the city has been inspecting houses to make sure that they comply with fire standards, students who are looking for housing should take it upon themselves to ask landlords about a property's fire safety before they sign a lease. As more students become safety conscious shoppers, landlords will be pressured to improve the conditions of their houses.
Assuming a house is up to code, an application of responsibility is perhaps the most important element for averting another tragedy. It does not require much foresight to know that it is a bad decision to overload a living room outlet, burn candles in a bedroom, or leave the bathroom with a curling iron on. Likewise students should take it upon themselves to install smoke detectors in rooms where they are lacking, and to change the batteries at regular intervals. Additionally, when hosting parties students are well-advised to make sure there is a designated house member who is responsible for helping to prevent avoidable accidents.
Following May graduation, the class of 2008 will be the last remaining year of students who were at Miami when the Main Street fire occured. It is vital that fire safety remains on people's minds, and in this vein organizations such as Associated Student Government and the Office of Off-Campus Affairs should help make sure that this issue does not disappear. Only by making fire awareness an integral feature of college life can future disasters be averted.
Importantly, students living in off-campus housing should pressure their landlords to fix potential fire hazards. Students living in older houses have related stories regarding open wiring and out of code fixtures. While it is commendable that the city has been inspecting houses to make sure that they comply with fire standards, students who are looking for housing should take it upon themselves to ask landlords about a property's fire safety before they sign a lease. As more students become safety conscious shoppers, landlords will be pressured to improve the conditions of their houses.
Assuming a house is up to code, an application of responsibility is perhaps the most important element for averting another tragedy. It does not require much foresight to know that it is a bad decision to overload a living room outlet, burn candles in a bedroom, or leave the bathroom with a curling iron on. Likewise students should take it upon themselves to install smoke detectors in rooms where they are lacking, and to change the batteries at regular intervals. Additionally, when hosting parties students are well-advised to make sure there is a designated house member who is responsible for helping to prevent avoidable accidents.
Following May graduation, the class of 2008 will be the last remaining year of students who were at Miami when the Main Street fire occured. It is vital that fire safety remains on people's minds, and in this vein organizations such as Associated Student Government and the Office of Off-Campus Affairs should help make sure that this issue does not disappear. Only by making fire awareness an integral feature of college life can future disasters be averted.
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