Boston University students living in on-campus housing know that the perks of having an all-inclusive living arrangement come with the burdens of following hundreds of rules, but some students say they feel many of the policies dealing with allowed appliances are not followed because of a lack of enforcement.
The list of prohibited items in BU’s Lifebook includes electric blankets, non-metal trashcans and “appliances for the preparation of food other than university rental program MicroFridge units and hot-air popcorn poppers,” though students are allowed to have other items like hair dryers and fans.
Office of Residence Life director David Zamojski said the basic reasoning for these policies deals with “fire safety primarily,” as the wiring in the dormitories cannot handle too much electrical stress.
“Our residence halls weren’t built to accommodate the kind of drain on the circuits that some of these heavy-duty appliances draw,” he said.
The majority of fires started on BU’s campus from 2000-2003 originated from electrical problems, according to the Environmental Health and Safety Office’s website.
Zamojski said several other items, like hookahs, are not allowed in dorms for other non-electrical reasons.
“We don’t permit any type of water pipe or object that can be filled water and emit steam,” he said. “These are typically used to smoke marijuana, and a hookah is not necessarily used for this, but because it has been used, we prohibit all types of water pipes.”
College of Communication sophomore Geoffrey Adelman said although a coffee maker and a George Foreman grill are easier alternatives that going to the dining hall, he feared the risk of being caught.
“It was easier to use [the items] than deal with other methods,” he said. “We are living in impatient times. If there is an easy way out, you can count on people taking it.”
School of Management sophomore Jessica Freisner said she owns a non-metal trashcan and called many of the rules contradictory.
“It seemed odd when I first found out about BU’s strict policies, especially the metal trashcan policy,” she said. “I have many other plastic items in my room besides my trashcan that are considered acceptable.”
Zamojski said certain appliances like irons and hot-air popcorn poppers are allowed because they only “draw certain levels of electricity from the system,” adding that students can still overload the circuits with these items.
Adelman said this part of the rule enforces the “hypocritical” structure of the administrators’ agendas.
“Hair dryers are just as dangerous,” he said. “Those in power can’t have it both ways. They should either outlaw dangerous appliances or not.”
Freisner said the rationale for allowing certain appliances “seriously undermines BU’s reasons for not allowing the banned items.”
Another problem with these policies, according to Freisner, is the dichotomy created between students living in dormitories with increased security and students living in apartment-style housing.
“It seems that more students would get in trouble at Warren just because there are more authority figures there than at South Campus or Bay State,” she said.
Zamojski said students are informed about all campus policies immediately upon moving into residences and he “trusts students can comply” without a constant need for regulation, though consequences should not be ignored.
“We have a responsibility to inform students about rules and regulations,” he said. “The Resident Assistants are focusing on community activity and well being, but if they encounter a problem, they have an obligation to note it.”
Because “RAs don’t do routine room inspections for illegal appliances,” Zamojski said these appliances aren’t always discovered until the residences are closed.
“During the course of a day, if we encounter illegal appliances, then we confront the matter,” he said. “When we close the halls for vacations, we inspect student rooms. If we discover illegal appliances during our security checks, then we take them and confront the student after the break.”
COM freshman Sarah Mayne said these rules are examples of the “superfluous” approach of BU’s authority system, adding that she thinks more effort should be spent on more important problems.
“I feel that BU has too many rules to effectively enforce the important ones,” she said. “Too much time is spent on hassling students over swiping their Terrier Cards correctly, that not enough time is spent on keeping the residences in repair.”