2008 Woodie Awards
To the Editor
Sean Altman '08
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: Commentary
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Colgate Students,
Fire safety is a serious matter. While some of you may doubt the importance of the fire alarm systems, they can and do save lives. Living in Curtis Hall last year, I was often plagued by late night fire alarms due to burnt popcorn. After a week of three late-night alarms, I began to become anxious and annoyed by the constant wake-up call. My sleep was being disrupted, I was falling asleep in class, and the cacophony of sirens echoed constantly in my head even when the alarms were not going off. As a result, I lost my respect for fire safety, and the alarms became a source of tension in my life.
This year, as a sophomore, I reacted inappropriately to my first fire alarm, most likely as a result of my unpleasant experiences a year ago. At the sound of the alarm, caused by my roommate cooking, I became startled and frustrated. I was studying for an important exam that I had to take in less than an hour, and I was having a lot of trouble understanding the fundamental concepts. With the painful siren screeching in my ears, I panicked and I disabled the fire alarms in my apartment.
But disabling the fire alarms did not stop Campus Safety from coming to my apartment, and it did not help anyone involved in the incident. Instead, the situation forced the Fire Marshal to take time out of his schedule to fix the fire alarms and to reset the system in our building. Speaking with one of the Campus Safety officers after the incident, I learned more about the importance of fire safety. Three years ago, they told me that there was a fire in Andrews Hall in which the fire alarm may have saved several students from injury or even death. Fire safety is a serious matter, and fire drills and alarms need to be taken seriously. Disabling fire alarms or ignoring alarms is inappropriate and highly dangerous.
Sincerely,
Sean Altman
Class of 2008
Fire safety is a serious matter. While some of you may doubt the importance of the fire alarm systems, they can and do save lives. Living in Curtis Hall last year, I was often plagued by late night fire alarms due to burnt popcorn. After a week of three late-night alarms, I began to become anxious and annoyed by the constant wake-up call. My sleep was being disrupted, I was falling asleep in class, and the cacophony of sirens echoed constantly in my head even when the alarms were not going off. As a result, I lost my respect for fire safety, and the alarms became a source of tension in my life.
This year, as a sophomore, I reacted inappropriately to my first fire alarm, most likely as a result of my unpleasant experiences a year ago. At the sound of the alarm, caused by my roommate cooking, I became startled and frustrated. I was studying for an important exam that I had to take in less than an hour, and I was having a lot of trouble understanding the fundamental concepts. With the painful siren screeching in my ears, I panicked and I disabled the fire alarms in my apartment.
But disabling the fire alarms did not stop Campus Safety from coming to my apartment, and it did not help anyone involved in the incident. Instead, the situation forced the Fire Marshal to take time out of his schedule to fix the fire alarms and to reset the system in our building. Speaking with one of the Campus Safety officers after the incident, I learned more about the importance of fire safety. Three years ago, they told me that there was a fire in Andrews Hall in which the fire alarm may have saved several students from injury or even death. Fire safety is a serious matter, and fire drills and alarms need to be taken seriously. Disabling fire alarms or ignoring alarms is inappropriate and highly dangerous.
Sincerely,
Sean Altman
Class of 2008