Cold snowy night outside of Francis Hall
Photo courtesy of Genevieve Blumberg
BY: GENEVIEVE BLUMBERG, STAFF WRITER
On Thursday, Jan. 29 at 12:30 a.m. fire alarms sounded off through Francis Hall, causing students to evacuate the building in 5-degree temperatures.
Alarms stopped and started at random times throughout the night. When the first alarm went off, students rose from slumber to layer up and file outside into the parking lot. After approximately 15 minutes from the start of the alarms, Safety and Security gestured for the students to reenter the building.
The fire alarms woke students multiple times between 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. Safety and Security had no comment at the time of print, but students were ushered back into the building before the alarm ceased, indicating that it was safe to enter.
“The fire alarm inspection that [St. Bonaventure University does] is not good enough,” said Grace McIntyre, a sophomore journalism major. “I didn’t get any sleep that night.”
Some students took to YikYak to share complaints regarding the fire alarms. Complaints included placing blame, searching for a non-existent fire and desire for an explanation from Safety and Security.
Cecelia Mineo, junior public health major, said she woke up more than once, but she only went out for the first and last alarm.
“There were gaps of a half-hour to 45 minutes when I slept, but when it was going off constantly I sat [in bed] on my phone,” said Mineo.
After one of the more extended breaks between fire alarms, Mineo said she made her way back downstairs, but stated that Safety and Security officers were already in the building and told her she did not need to evacuate again.
“I went outside for the first alarm, and again when I saw Safety and Security sitting downstairs at 2 in the morning to turn the alarm off,” said Mineo.
The last alarm sounded at 2:30 a.m. and lasted several minutes.
