The Board of Trustees of Southern Adventist University convened Monday and voted to authorize university administration to obtain expert advice and take steps to enhance campus-wide fire safety standards. The Board also authorized the installation of sprinkler systems in all residence halls.
The action comes after a female student died in a fire last week on the floor of a residence hall that did not have sprinklers.
“The safety of our students is our primary concern, and we want to demonstrate that,” said Gordon Retzer, chairman of the board. “We want to exceed fire safety standards.”
The administration will review bids from several companies and install sprinkler systems, as well as add other enhanced safety measures, in both Thatcher Hall (the women’s residence hall) and Talge Hall (the men’s residence hall), officials said. The board’s goal is for the residence hall renovations be complete by the fall semester.
Parts of both residence halls already contain sprinkler systems. The entire south wing of Thatcher contains sprinklers as well as the basement floor. In Talge the newly added wing is sprinklered as well as the basement level.
“When the public thinks of safe residence halls,” said President Gordon Bietz, “I want them to think of Southern Adventist University.”
In addition to the installation of sprinkler systems, safety consultants will work with the university’s management team to recommend additional measures to enhance residence hall and general campus fire safety. “We can’t prevent all accidents, but we want to do all that is reasonable and within our power to prevent such a tragedy in the future,” said Dr. Bietz to the board.
The board also endorsed a previous action taken by the administration to authorize Kelly’s English Garden Memorial Fund, which will create a garden on campus in remembrance of Kelly Weimer.
Board members expressed condolences and sympathy for the Weimar family and to all the students and staff members of the university.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 26, a fire broke out in the third floor lobby of Thatcher Hall. The fire was contained to the lobby, a kitchenette, a hallway restroom and the hallway. Flames did not enter any residence hall room.
Two students were hospitalized and treated for smoke inhalation. Kelly Weimer, junior English major from Woodridge, Ill., lost her life. The state fire marshal ruled the fire accidental after an investigation.