I wrote a blog about how I experienced the many false fire alarms in 1988 when I was a freshman and how there were immature deaf/Deaf students at the time making a mess of things for the rest of the general student population. Now in the Buff and Blue article it reports two suspicious fires in the garbage chutes of Benson Hall. Now, there could be one or more perpetrators in pulling the fire alarms and it could be the same perpetrator(s) who started the fires. Until the investigation is over or the perps caught we won't really know. But Gallaudet University is offering a paltry $600 dollar reward "for information leading to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for the fires." How much is Gallaudet University's PR worth? How much is Gallaudet University's image worth? Is it worth $600 in the hope it'd be enough to get people to talk? Or would it be a better offer a reward of, say, $2000 dollars?
Now, imagine this. You have a string of false alarms in Benson Hall perpetrated by an unknown person or persons. And then you have two suspicious fires as well. And then you have Gallaudet University come out and say, "Here's a $600 dollar reward for any information leading to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for the fires." I know Gallaudet University is serious about this but is $600 dollars enough to get people to talk? After all, we're talking about potential lives at stake, not to mention possible injuries if the next fire alarm or fire happen again at one of the dormitories on the Gallaudet campus. I don't think $600 dollars is enough to hopefully get some names. I may be wrong but I think it's a paltry reward amount considering the potential seriousness down the road if somebody gets seriously injured or killed because of a fire.
Friday, October 01, 2010
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12 comments:
That's the fine in most college dorm. look up the dorm policy and you'll see.
Here's one example of college dorm policy: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/reslife/respect
And here is a group of people complaining of false alarm all the time:
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/51483734.html
Anony 6:04 PM,
No. That is NOT a fine for Gallaudet University. It is the reward amount announced by Gallaudet University as stated in the Buff and Blue article.
Anony 6:14 PM
The 2nd link you gave (http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/51483734.html) it was a leaky steam pipe that triggered the fire alarm. Not a false alarm.
I'm not sure what you're trying to do here but you're not making a whole lotta sense.
And what award do other collegs offer? I think the fine is too little... shouldn't they fine them more?
and read the comments on the other link.. people are telling their experience in college dorms just like what you are doing.
Hey, maybe they got a serial firebrand lurking those halls, lol. Seriously, tho, from where I sit, it does look like the incidents are escalating.
At any rate, this has to stop because it is looking more and more than just an inconvenience to the rest of the students; it could escalate out of control to the point lives would be in jeopardy. And a token 600 dollars against this potentially dangerous backdrop is looking laughable. I hope there's prison time in someone's future soon.
Tousi
Once when I was at Gally, someone started a fire in the fourth floor boys' bathroom at Krug Hall. I knew who it was, but because no reward was offered, I didn't bother to take the time to report it. Besides, I didn't know who/where I was supposed to report it to, and whether or not they would even take it seriously. If there had been a reward, even $50, I certainly would have told them what I knew.
live(s) could be lost...
Cuz this boy screamed wolf once too many.
By then, it'll be too late.
No body likes a snitch.
But...
If you know someone that's doing it, do that person a favor. Tell him/her, you will report it if he/she doesn't stop. Send anonymous note if you have to.
It's the right thing to do.
Anonymous 7:58am
I am mortified at what you just said. Didn't your Mommy teach you anything at all?
Tousi
Hopefully some parent taught their college bound student that if they have concrete evidence of the perps who are committing reckless fires/burning, and the potential of lives are at risk, to do the right thing, before it's to late, to "talk" and "act" (NO "price tag" needed) After all, there is no amount of money that could possibly ever cover lives.
Gallaudet... if the only action the school implemented is a "$600.00 reward" Then yes, that is totally unacceptable. The school needs to revise their cost-analysis and take more preventive action towards the false alarmers, and the reckless fires, than just the reward money. Has Gallaudet done this?
If this an ongoing repeat problem year after year then they need to seek a better way to address this whether it's include more security cameras, better fire alarm (say, it releases an invisible spray that could identify the perp later on), more RAs, or even have at the beginning of the school year a special meeting with all of the students about the hazards of pulling a fire alarm which can be a safety risk but also illegal.
Solution: Fire alarms with hidden video cameras to record whomever pulls the lever. For genuine emergencies, you're a hero. For pranksters and criminals -- you're a goat! You get kicked out of school, fined, maybe imprisoned. Imprisoned?!! Yes! Suppose the fire truck was involved in an accdient or one of the firemen got hurt responding to a false emergency? Maybe a student could die from being trampled? Those pulling fire alarms are a danger to us all. If there is a real emergency, it is possible that response to the real emergecny could be delayed while this false alarm you pulled has to be checked out. The ass you save might just be your own, your best friend, a member of your family--just about anyone dear to you.
I'll be checking back to see if anyone responds and I sincerely HOPE that the jackasses doing this bring their "A-game" because what I've said so far is ... nothing compared to what I can say.
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