The absence of fire drills in the wake of the costliest residence hall fire in recent memory indicates a lack of earnestness in Granville Towers’ safety policies and preparations. Fire drills should not be seen as a burden or a waste of time; rather, they should be commended as the pre-emptive safety measure that they are and taken more seriously.
The fire and resulting damage that took place in Granville Towers last November cost up to $1 million. Nonetheless, Granville Towers has only just begun scheduling fire drills — and might not have had a fire drill in years.
Not only are these practices dangerous and a disservice to its residents, but it is a blatant violation of the fire code, which requires quarterly unannounced fire drills.
The argument that fire drills will cause complacency among residents is nothing more than a poor excuse aimed at downplaying the illegal and unsafe practices or lack thereof that have been the norm at the residence hall.
It’s time for a change in the fire safety policies of residence halls campuswide. The fact that many students cannot recall practicing a fire drill indicates that more attention should be paid to safety precautions across the board.
The best way to prepare for disasters is through practicing your reactions to these situations. If a fire drill is responsible for saving even just one life on this campus — then it has served its purpose, and it’s time that Granville Towers plans accordingly.
