Residentsignorefire in Xavier

On Tuesday, Nov. 24, a fire broke out in Xavier Hall. The fire was extinguished by Public Safety Officer Richard Scattergood, but some students ignored the alarm and their resident assistant and did not leave the building.

by Benjamin Lunn staff writer

The digital clock strikes 12 and many students lay down to sleep. Suddenly a high-pitched screech pierces their eardrums.jolting students from their impending slumber.

Many scream with expletives, realizing that it is the fire alarms.

Some, thinking it is a drill, stay in bed.

Others, who follow fire regulations, get up and walk out of Xavier to find a smoke-filled stairwell.

At 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, Xavier resident Timothy Long reported a fire in the stainvell to Public Safety Officer Richard Scattergood.

According to public safety, their education students.

Scattergood responded and founJ an industrial size vacuum cleaner on fire.

He extinguished the fire using a chemical fire extinguisher.

Nick Luchko. the resident assistant on duty that night, recalls hearing the alarm and noticing that Scattergood was not present at his desk.

He then noted a smell like, "a million capguns going off at once."

Immediately, he ran down the halls banging on doors, at which point the students began to leave.

Not all of the students left.

Some ignored the alarms and the banging, opting to remain in their beds and rooms, thinking it was just another drill.

Luchko said that all of the RAs did what they were supposed to.

"Colleges will be competing for placements," Middleton said.

Being that this system is already facilitated here at Cabrini, the proposal shows no threat to the curriculum or any inconvenience to the students.

"Luckily Cabrini has firmly established who we are with them [area school districts in which students are placed for field experience]," Middleton said.

Elementary majors are also being suggested to pursue liberal arts major as well as an education major.

However, this proposal is most likely going to be filtered out by state legislators, according to Middleton.

Such changes are being considered in order to meet the demands of the profession. The teaching vocation has evolved within the past IO years and will continue to evolve.

"This is simply a change of the times;· Middleton said. "Parents are becoming more demanding as are area taxpayers, who ask where their money is going."

Middleton added that she is not concerned about these possible changes and is confident in Cabrini's program and reputation.

Before such changes are finalized they have to be researched and passed by a legislative committee, the House, and finally the Senate.

Middleton describes the process as being a politician's game on a political front. The earliest that such changes would have been legalized was in the beginning of November of 1998.

However, it is not expected to occur until spring.

In addition, the signed, sealed and delivered proposals would be grandfather claused.

Hence, this years seniors can breathe a sigh of relief while all underclassmen walk on pins and needles.

Everyone followed standard procedure.

In the handbook, under fire regulations, it is written "At the sound of the alarm, each resident should leave by the nearest fire exit immediately and proceed directly to the front of the building."

If students do not evacuate the building, it may result in disciplinary action.

Xavier's Resident Director John Osborne said that disciplinary action will be taken. However, to protect the privacy of those involved, the names were not divulged.

A report, the contents of which is also confidential, was written and submitted to resident life, who will decide what happens next.