FDO Removes Banned Devices

When Leslie A. Moroz '03 returned to her room in Pennypacker after spring break, she found that it did not look quite the same as she had left it.

Even though she had locked the door, her coffeemaker was missing, along with a rice cooker and some candles.

And she found an anonymous note on her message board, which she said she assumed was written by another student: "No more coffee. Drip drip. Ha ha."

Moroz was one of hundreds of first-year students who had items confiscated from their rooms by Harvard Yard Operations during an 11-day search of all first-year dorm rooms for items violating fire regulations.

The last few rooms were inspected yesterday.

The inspections, which were concluded yesterday, raised concerns about privacy among students, who were not notified that items would be confiscated.

But administrators say the searches were necessary to ensure fire safety.

Elizabeth Studley Nathans, Dean of Freshmen, said she ordered the confiscations after learning that several rooms had appliances which are not approved under Harvard's housing policy.

"Reinspections were warranted by the extraordinary number of violations observed by Yard Operations maintenance workers in the course of their routine responsibilities," Nathans wrote in an e-mail message.

First-year rooms were first inspected during winter break. Unlike the earlier searches, the spring break sweep was unannounced.

Nathans said a March 24 dormitory fire at Boston College further influenced her decision.

The room searches yielded several potentially dangerous items, she said, including a hot plate left on over spring break and a hibachi with a full propane tank.

"These things are serious threats to community safety," Nathans said.

Although she said she did not like having to search all first-year rooms, she added that the inspections were justified for safety reasons.

"This is better than dead freshmen," Nathans said.

In all, 40 to 50 percent of first-year rooms contained at least one item that was confiscated, said Kathleen A. Bray, Manager of Freshman Dormitories.

Bray said a moving company had to be hired to help with the inspections because of the large number of violations.

Only items in plain view were inspected, and Yard Operations only reported violations of fire safety regulations, administrators said.

Reema Rajbanshi '03, who was in her room during the inspection, said the inspectors did not spend much time in the rooms searching for illegal items.

"It was brief and painful," she said.

Nathans said students may retrieve their confiscated items at the end of the school year.

But while administrators said the searches were justified, first-year students expressed a variety of concerns about the room inspections.

Several students who were not present when their rooms were searched said they were not told how to retrieve their confiscated items, or even that anything was taken.

Many students said that some of the items confiscated from their rooms were not serious safety threats.

"It's so silly," said Rajbanshi, who had her hot water boiler taken. "There are cooking appliances that are far worse fire hazards than the hot water machine."

"I think it's retarded that we can't have coffee machines. What's the point?" Moroz said.

Another student said she resented the confiscation of her menorah, which showed no evidence of use and was a family heirloom.

Bray said Yard Operations followed Cambridge housing regulations in determining which items to confiscate.

Harvard's policy, as stated in the Handbook for Students reads, "In accordance with the ordinances and regulations of the City of Cambridge, cooking appliances are prohibited in any room or apartment not equipped with kitchen facilities. Students are advised that the University must enforce this regulation."

But students pointed out what they said were inconsistencies in Harvard's policies.

Many first-years complained about Harvard's policy on microwaves. The student handbook notes that, while microwaves are not permitted, students are allowed to keep a Micro-Fridge, a combination microwave and refrigerator.

The handbook further states this product can be leased through Harvard Student Agencies, although it gives no explanation for why this one product is permitted.

"The fact that Harvard lets you have [a Micro-Fridge] because it comes through Harvard shows that they're more concerned about money than safety," Rajbanshi said.

"Maybe they service them and they know that they're safe," said Khalda A. Ibrahim '03, whose own microwave was taken.

Several students said the dorm room searches should have extended to all undergraduates--not just first-years.

"I think it backs up the irrationality of this whole thing," Rajbanshi said. "What year you are says nothing about how careful you are."

"It seems kind of biased," said Brian L. Sigafoos '03, who lost candles and a hot pot to Yard Operations. "They should do it everywhere, if they're going to do it [on the Yard]."

Despite their concerns, though, many first-years said they understood the administration's reasoning behind the unannounced searches.

"I would like to say they should have warned us, but that kind of defeats the purpose of searching," said Eli R. Sacks '03, whose coffeemaker was confiscated.

"I understand completely with the Seton Hall University fires and all of that," Sigafoos said. "Still, at the same time, it's a little annoying to have someone take your stuff. You feel violated."