First Responders . . . we’ll wait

On Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 1 p.m. the Stewart Hall fire alarm sounded, interrupting classes and forcing students and staff to leave the building. Students and faculty remained stranded outside of the building for 38 minutes as the alarm continuously rang, waiting for the arrival of first responders, who never showed.
“I feel like someone should have come by now, they could be putting our lives in danger,” said Rachel Mitchell-Percy, a junior Elementary Education major, who was participating in her Elementary Science Methods class. “I could be doing classwork, furthering my education, but instead I’m standing outside of the building, waiting on first responders,” finished Mitchell-Percy.
While the lack of first responders, or acknowledgement from university officials could have been cause for panic, some measures of protocol were followed. Dr. Okoye Ahmose, a professor in the Mass Communications Department, was conducting office hours when the alarm sounded.
“As a faculty member, I’ve already been informed to exit the building when the alarm goes off,” stated Ahmose. In response to the cause of the alarm, Dr. Ahmose provided speculation. “This is purely conjecture, but it could have been a student who accidentally, or purposely, pulled the alarm.”
According to the Southern University Police Department, the alert did not go through to the local fire department, as result of a possible malfunction. As for the alarm ringing for a duration of 38 minutes, there is a faculty member that is assigned to turn off the alarm and notify the proper authorities of a possible emergency. In this case, a faculty member did not do their job.
Once Southern University Police Department (SUPD) became aware of the situation, they placed a call to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, requesting assistance with the issue. The SUPD force has been low on manpower this semester, and has been receiving assistance in patrols from EBR Police Department and Sheriff’s Office.
A member of the Sheriff’s Office arrived at 1:38 p.m. and disabled the alarm, allowing the displaced occupants re-entry.
“It’s apparent that there is a lack of communication between the school and the emergency responders,” said senior Elementary Education major Surya Price. “In the event that this was a real fire, I guess we’d all be burned up by now.” finished Price.