Fire code detrimental to student community
By our opinion
On Wednesday, April 16, the City of Santa Clara Fire Marshall completed the annual inspection of university residence halls. Upon inspection, the Fire Marshall determined that Santa Clara was in violation of fire code in many of these halls. Because of the fire code, all doors that do not have automatic holding devices installed are mandated to be closed at all times, with the exception of when students are entering and leaving the rooms.
The fire code violation raises many concerns regarding not only student life, but university procedures as well. Because the fire code has been in place for years with no action taken, one has to question why the university did not take significant measures to comply beforehand.
Housing facilities director Mako Ushihara says that more prompt measures were not taken earlier to comply with the code because of conflicting Residential Learning Community policies. Yet, the community that the university was trying so hard to maintain by not following code is now being threatened because of it.
While we respect the university's dedication to maintaining this sense of community, students' safety should always be of utmost concern. As so many of us find out in college, just because you don't get in trouble for something doesn't mean you shouldn't follow the rules.
In the case of the fire code, if the university had been more proactive in complying, we wouldn't be faced with the possibly drastic change in student life facing us today.
Regardless of what has been done in the past, we respect the administration's swift action in dealing with this issue and realizing how essential community is to the Santa Clara campus.
Interactions within the residence halls are part of the quintessential college experience, and some of the greatest experiences and lessons take place within the halls affected by the policy. The people on your floor are who you grumble about classes with after a long day of school, and who you bond with after a long night out.
College is supposed to be the time in life when you interact with people from different backgrounds and different principles, and residence hall life encourages these often unintentional discussions which cause students to learn and grow.
Devoid of the stimulating and life-changing dynamic that takes place in these halls, students' homes would become little more than a jail cell with a sink.
Before the renovations are complete, the university needs to dedicate their full resources in investing in community programs and activities and maintaining the vibrant campus atmosphere and connected environment we have today.
At the end of the day, nothing can replace the interactions that students experience on their hall floors. Because of this, we encourage the administration to follow through with their renovation plans, especially the residences that consist of long hallways such as Swig, and adhere to the most stringent schedule -- these renovations should now be top priority. While we understand that renovations are extremely expensive, they are of utmost importance to every hall in maintaining the community that Santa Clara so greatly prides itself on.
We need to welcome returning students and the class of 2012 to thriving residence halls when the fall 2008 quarter begins. In the meantime, we respect the university's dedication to maintaining community on-campus and look forward to witnessing their creative methods of keeping students in touch in what was once their interactive community.