While I hate to post something that's bad PR for my sorority, I thought this article was appropriate to post here b/c this is obviously an important issue:
Pledging event lands UNH sorority in hot water
By BRUNO MATARAZZO Jr.
Democrat Staff Writer
DURHAM — A University of New Hampshire sorority will face charges in court after fire officials say the student group violated state fire laws. The misdemeanor charges stem from an incident which took place during an Alpha Xi Delta pledging event on Oct. 8.
Fire Chief Ron O’Keefe said the sorority members covered smoke detectors with plastic bags for an event involving approximately 200 candles. The sorority members apparently covered the detectors to prevent the lit candles from setting off the alarm. The plastic bags didn’t work though and the detectors were set off when the candles were blown out at about 7:50 p.m. on Oct. 8. The group also blocked fire exits with furniture after they cleared out a room for the event. The violations were not deliberate, O’Keefe said, and it is the first violation for the group.
"Common sense didn’t prevail," O’Keefe said of the incident.
Following the incident, fire officials said they will work with the university’s sororities to educate them on fire safety.
This is the second incident in October involving a Greek organization violating fire codes. Ten days after the Alpha Xi Delta, another UNH Greek organization was involved in a similar incident. Fire officials said fraternity pledges allegedly set off fireworks and blocked exits at the Sigma Beta fraternity house as a prank. The fireworks device generated smoke to fill up the second- and third-floor hallways and emergency exits that were purposely blocked. O’Keefe said that incident is still under investigation by the Police and Fire departments.
Democrat Staff Writer Bruno Matarazzo, Jr. can be reached at 742-4455, Ext. 5311, or
bmatarazzo@fosters.com
Link to article