It seems that some outrage is brewing over Fire Safety’s decision to bring back the inspections which they had previously said would stop this semester. Fire safety is important and ok, yeah, you technically shouldn’t be lighting candles and incense under the tapestry which shouldn’t be hanging on your wall, but the manner in which they’re going back on their decision is a bit strange.
And judging from this WSA reaction email, Fire Safety is now apparently back with a vengeance, ready to go rogue:
The WSA was recently informed that Fire Safety inspectors have decided to disregard the search stoppage that was outlined by the WSA and the Argus earlier this semester. Thus, the WSA strongly encourages students to double-check their rooms for total compliance with Fire Safety regulations and the Code of Non-Academic content. Students who are not prepared for additional Fire Safety inspections should expect no mercy from newly emboldened Fire Safety inspectors.
The ResLife email from Fran Koerting in which the new searches were announced claimed that the January decision not to conduct fire safety inspections was “incorrectly reported” in the Argus article, which is weird because that would also mean it was also “incorrectly reported” by the WSA, which has no clear interest in misconstruing the facts.
This is the WSA’s side of the story, which seems reasonable:
After months of considerable pressure from the WSA on questionable Fire Safety inspection procedures, the administration did inform us that Fire Safety had completed their inspections for the year. The WSA was also told that problematic areas with past violations might be subject to reinspection. The Argus ran an article which correctly reported all of these facts.
Subsequently, the WSA learned that ResLife planned to warn staff of additional random inspections this year, despite the previous notification that inspections had been completed. There are two possible explanations for Fire Safety’s decision to impose an additional round of random inspections:
• The administration was initially disingenuous or misinformed in notifying the WSA and the Argus about the completion of searches.
• Fire Safety decided to capitalize on reduced vigilance of unsuspecting students following the publication of negative coverage in the Argus regarding the search stoppage.
So which is it, administrative negligence or Fire Safety disingenousness?
Again, not to minimize the obvious necessity of promoting fire safety, but why announce that last semester’s inspections were sufficient, only to go back on the decision three weeks later? Are they deliberately trying to instill fear and mistrust in the student body, especially after certain incidents over the past two years?
Until some answers become apparent, you would do well to follow the WSA’s recommendations:
Keeping the community safe is everyone’s first priority. As your WSA representatives, we implore you not to engage in activity which could result in burning down your residence. Go here to learn more about Fire Safety and the appeals process for improper fines. The WSA will continue to work towards protecting student rights and ensuring that we are all treated with the respect and dignity we deserve.
And once again, go over ResLife’s fire safety guidelines so as to keep Fire Safety from coming down on your ass hard.
I just sleep naked and do not always wake up quickly enough to stop entry.(rereading this I can’t help but giggle)
I just sleep naked and do not always wake up quickly enough to stop entry.(rereading this I can’t help but giggle)
I just sleep naked and do not always wake up quickly enough to stop entry.
(rereading this I can’t help but giggle)
http://wesleyanargus.com/2009/02/24/inspect-this-fire-safety/
http://wesleyanargus.com/2009/02/24/inspect-this-fire-safety/
http://wesleyanargus.com/2009/02/24/inspect-this-fire-safety/
I have two major problems with them. Though they are checking for fire safety, they report any and every infraction against Reslife. Also, some of their wording is highly ambiguous. For example, they say that any smoking device with traces of ash is illegal, but as anyone who owns a pipe/bowl/hookah knows, it’s pretty damn hard to remove every trace of ash.
I have two major problems with them. Though they are checking for fire safety, they report any and every infraction against Reslife. Also, some of their wording is highly ambiguous. For example, they say that any smoking device with traces of ash is illegal, but as anyone who owns a pipe/bowl/hookah knows, it’s pretty damn hard to remove every trace of ash.
I have two major problems with them. Though they are checking for fire safety, they report any and every infraction against Reslife. Also, some of their wording is highly ambiguous. For example, they say that any smoking device with traces of ash is illegal, but as anyone who owns a pipe/bowl/hookah knows, it’s pretty damn hard to remove every trace of ash.
And they knock, too. Unless you’re naked with earmuffs on, you’d hear them and tell them to wait while you dress.
And they knock, too. Unless you’re naked with earmuffs on, you’d hear them and tell them to wait while you dress.
And they knock, too. Unless you’re naked with earmuffs on, you’d hear them and tell them to wait while you dress.
8:02- what, do you walk around naked all the time? maybe it’s just bad luck… it’s not like they come around every week.
8:02- what, do you walk around naked all the time? maybe it’s just bad luck… it’s not like they come around every week.
8:02- what, do you walk around naked all the time? maybe it’s just bad luck… it’s not like they come around every week.
http://wesleyanargus.com/2008/04/18/under-fire-students-question-reasoning-behind-fines/
http://wesleyanargus.com/2008/04/18/under-fire-students-question-reasoning-behind-fines/
Of course the WSA has reason to fabricate facts about the disappearance of fire safety – those fuckers want to get reelected.
Of course the WSA has reason to fabricate facts about the disappearance of fire safety – those fuckers want to get reelected.
Of course the WSA has reason to fabricate facts about the disappearance of fire safety – those fuckers want to get reelected.
Every time that fire safety has entered my room I have not had clothes on, so this is most upsetting news for me. I will likely spend less time lounging around in the nude out of fear.
Every time that fire safety has entered my room I have not had clothes on, so this is most upsetting news for me. I will likely spend less time lounging around in the nude out of fear.
Every time that fire safety has entered my room I have not had clothes on, so this is most upsetting news for me.
I will likely spend less time lounging around in the nude out of fear.
reslife is my most hated administrative department, closely followed by the fire safety people. Way to treat students like clients. I’m sick of it.I can name at least a couple people in both departments who have treated me without respect, understanding, or patience.
reslife is my most hated administrative department, closely followed by the fire safety people. Way to treat students like clients. I’m sick of it.I can name at least a couple people in both departments who have treated me without respect, understanding, or patience.
reslife is my most hated administrative department, closely followed by the fire safety people. Way to treat students like clients. I’m sick of it.
I can name at least a couple people in both departments who have treated me without respect, understanding, or patience.
anon 12:01;I’m twisting some words:”The whole point… is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code.”re-phrased: “The point of inspections is to cause fear (of losing money)”I think the fear of fines and privacy violations is at this point much greater than that of a dorm fire.I guess the message is; “having/doing these things is bad for you”but when privacy is an issue, the badness for students becomes independent from the behaviors at issue… (I think)
anon 12:01;I’m twisting some words:”The whole point… is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code.”re-phrased: “The point of inspections is to cause fear (of losing money)”I think the fear of fines and privacy violations is at this point much greater than that of a dorm fire.I guess the message is; “having/doing these things is bad for you”but when privacy is an issue, the badness for students becomes independent from the behaviors at issue… (I think)
anon 12:01;
I’m twisting some words:
“The whole point… is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code.”
re-phrased: “The point of inspections is to cause fear (of losing money)”
I think the fear of fines and privacy violations is at this point much greater than that of a dorm fire.
I guess the message is; “having/doing these things is bad for you”
but when privacy is an issue, the badness for students becomes independent from the behaviors at issue… (I think)
I have a third reason that the WSA didn’t seem to think of: once people know that there are no more Fire Safety inspections, they’ll do all kinds of crazy shit that could potentially be actually dangerous.The whole point of Fire Safety inspections is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code, so it doesn’t make sense that they’d tell everyone that there are no more inspections for the semester.
I have a third reason that the WSA didn’t seem to think of: once people know that there are no more Fire Safety inspections, they’ll do all kinds of crazy shit that could potentially be actually dangerous.The whole point of Fire Safety inspections is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code, so it doesn’t make sense that they’d tell everyone that there are no more inspections for the semester.
I have a third reason that the WSA didn’t seem to think of: once people know that there are no more Fire Safety inspections, they’ll do all kinds of crazy shit that could potentially be actually dangerous.
The whole point of Fire Safety inspections is to make you afraid of violating the Fire Safety code, so it doesn’t make sense that they’d tell everyone that there are no more inspections for the semester.
Complete doesn’t mean no more fire inspections. It means that Fire Safety had completed a campus wide inspection of every dorm room. Ones that had violations will be reinspected. “So which is it, administrative negligence or Fire Safety disingenousness?” Don’t blame your problems on other people. Is it possible someone from the Argus misinterpreted what the administration was saying?
Complete doesn’t mean no more fire inspections. It means that Fire Safety had completed a campus wide inspection of every dorm room. Ones that had violations will be reinspected. “So which is it, administrative negligence or Fire Safety disingenousness?” Don’t blame your problems on other people. Is it possible someone from the Argus misinterpreted what the administration was saying?
Complete doesn’t mean no more fire inspections. It means that Fire Safety had completed a campus wide inspection of every dorm room. Ones that had violations will be reinspected. “So which is it, administrative negligence or Fire Safety disingenousness?” Don’t blame your problems on other people. Is it possible someone from the Argus misinterpreted what the administration was saying?
good post! very well researched and very well put together, thanks for putting the time into it. lets hope fire safety actually starts to listen to the WSA and the students and get their act together.
good post! very well researched and very well put together, thanks for putting the time into it. lets hope fire safety actually starts to listen to the WSA and the students and get their act together.
good post! very well researched and very well put together, thanks for putting the time into it. lets hope fire safety actually starts to listen to the WSA and the students and get their act together.