Students hot over stove issue in LCN

September 19, 2005 —

Several students voiced their frustration with the University's decision to inactivate stoves in Living Center North during the Student Association's general meeting Monday.

Ronald Portwine, director of Auxiliary Operations, and Merry Jo Brandimore, director of Residential Life and assistant vice president of Student Services, were on hand to explain the reasoning behind shutting them off. They cited a number of reasons for the decision, including safety, mandatory freshmen meal plans and seeking balance between Living Center North (LCN) and the First Year Suites.

Portwine explained that the decision to inactivate the stoves was made in April, after a fire set off the building's sprinkler system, causing $50,000 in water damage. Portwine said the stoves were inactivated rather than removed because their removal would affect certain building codes that would require over a million dollars worth of renovations to subsequently comply with. Portwine said students were sent letters at the beginning of August, notifying them that the stoves would be shut off.

When asked about the decision to turn off the stoves, Craig T. Maxwell, director of University Health and Safety, who was not at the meeting, said he was not involved in the decision but did confirm that the majority of on-campus residence fires begin in the kitchen area.

Freshmen meal plans were also named as a reason for the decision. This semester marks the first time that all on-campus freshmen are required to have meal plans. Portwine explained that the need for stoves would not be as prevalent, since LCN residents would have the meal plan alternative. Subsequently, inactivating the stoves will save money in maintenance and utilities.

Balance between the First Year Suites and LCN was also mentioned as a reason. Portwine explained that when LCN opened in 1999, it was not intended to be used as freshmen housing. Growth in on-campus living between 1999 and 2002 made it necessary to begin putting freshmen in LCN in 2003. The decision was made this year to make it exclusive freshmen housing.

Portwine said the majority of on-campus freshmen are divided between the First Year Suites and LCN. Because of its newness and original intention, LCN is seen by many freshmen as superior living. And while Portwine said the First Year Suites are comparable, if not better, than the freshmen residence halls at other universities, he did agree that there was an imbalance.

Disabling the stoves in LCN helps adjust that imbalance. In addition, $33,000 was spent to add microwave/refrigerator units to the First Year Suites to further the balancing process.

However, many freshmen who knew they were going to be living in LCN, such as those in the Foundation Scholarship Program, are angry that promises to them were broken.

"I can understand why the University seeks to equalize the freshmen housing facilities," said Emily Hammerbacher, Student Association president. "However, it becomes problematic when incoming freshmen are told by admissions recruiters their first year housing amenities will include stoves - and then when they arrive here on campus, the situation changes. In addition, it seems obvious that if the University spent money on stoves - we should use them."