2008 Woodie Awards
Grill ban is a burning problem
Justin Gibson
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Opinion
Ever feel like a little kid again in grade school, whose overbearing parents won't let them touch anything out of fear of accidents? Well, Junior, you aren't allowed to play with matches anymore, as University Housing has forbidden personal grills for Cougar Village residents.
Director of University Housing Mike Schultz said this decision was made after some incidents with the grills were reported throughout the past few years. God forbid they punish just the violators, as if we all need to suffer the consequences because of a few careless people.
At the previous Residence Housing Association meeting, students upset with Housing's decision offered solutions such as limiting the size of grills allowed and having residents who own grills take a fire safety class. Of course, once a rule is set by any administration at SIUE it is not really up for debate, even if they pretend that it is. It is almost like they flexed their muscles and said, "Don't get too comfy with your lives, here is a new completely random rule."
Grills aren't the only things in the Cougar Village apartments that may cause damage. Say someone living on the second floor lets water overflow and that leak floods the room below them. Guess that means we better get rid of showers, sinks and toilets. If one makes the mistake of putting foil in the microwave, we better get rid of that, too. Multiple sockets plugged in can catch fire, so should we ban anything that requires a plug-in?
The grills provided for us to use aren't exactly up to par as a suitable replacement. Upkeep hasn't been a high priority with them as they look like they haven't been touched in ages, and one can only imagine what kinds of diseases you can catch from them. The one by my apartment is so rusted out I think I poked a hole through it with my finger when I touched it the other day.
A logical solution to this problem would be to permit grills at Cougar Village if they are registered with Housing, and to make sure each owner is aware that failure to comply with a reasonably set rule could result in loss of the grill, plus fines. This way, those who aren't able to comply with set rules would be punished, not the residents of the entire housing area.
As college students, we are of adult age. It is time that we start being treated like this was actually true, and not some sort of fantasy. Is it really right that we can operate a motor vehicle, vote and go to war but not be allowed to use a grill?
Director of University Housing Mike Schultz said this decision was made after some incidents with the grills were reported throughout the past few years. God forbid they punish just the violators, as if we all need to suffer the consequences because of a few careless people.
At the previous Residence Housing Association meeting, students upset with Housing's decision offered solutions such as limiting the size of grills allowed and having residents who own grills take a fire safety class. Of course, once a rule is set by any administration at SIUE it is not really up for debate, even if they pretend that it is. It is almost like they flexed their muscles and said, "Don't get too comfy with your lives, here is a new completely random rule."
Grills aren't the only things in the Cougar Village apartments that may cause damage. Say someone living on the second floor lets water overflow and that leak floods the room below them. Guess that means we better get rid of showers, sinks and toilets. If one makes the mistake of putting foil in the microwave, we better get rid of that, too. Multiple sockets plugged in can catch fire, so should we ban anything that requires a plug-in?
The grills provided for us to use aren't exactly up to par as a suitable replacement. Upkeep hasn't been a high priority with them as they look like they haven't been touched in ages, and one can only imagine what kinds of diseases you can catch from them. The one by my apartment is so rusted out I think I poked a hole through it with my finger when I touched it the other day.
A logical solution to this problem would be to permit grills at Cougar Village if they are registered with Housing, and to make sure each owner is aware that failure to comply with a reasonably set rule could result in loss of the grill, plus fines. This way, those who aren't able to comply with set rules would be punished, not the residents of the entire housing area.
As college students, we are of adult age. It is time that we start being treated like this was actually true, and not some sort of fantasy. Is it really right that we can operate a motor vehicle, vote and go to war but not be allowed to use a grill?
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Disgusted
posted 9/11/07 @ 12:32 AM CST
Once again the Director of Housing, Mike Schultz has come up with an idea to make living in Cougar Village as unpleasant as possible. Not only have grills been banned, but now residents are no longer allowed to have apartment size washers and dryers in their apartments. (Continued…)
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