Students will not be able to bring their hoverboards to campus, beginning Friday, Jan. 8.
The Department of Public Safety has prohibited the operation, charging and storing of hoverboards on university property due to safety concerns, according to a memo from Chief of Public Safety Edgar Rodriguez.
Hoverboards are rechargeable, self-balancing scooters that have recently been investigated for causing heat-related injuries, according to Rodriguez.
“This policy is intended to minimize the risk associated with hoverboards overheating, catching fire or exploding while they are being charged or operated,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
On Dec. 3, after receiving reports of injuries and fires caused by hoverboards, the National Association of Fire Marshals issued a press release with safety tips for the purchase, use, care and maintenance for the devices.
The press release advises people to not leave hoverboards unattended while charging, not overcharge hoverboards, and stop operating a hoverboard if it is very hot, as this could indicate a faulty battery that needs replacing.
Hoverboards are also currently being investigated by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), since there have been at least 22 reports of hoverboards that caught fire while being operated or recharged.
“CPSC has received dozens of reports of injuries from hospital ERs that we have contracts with,” said CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye in a Dec. 16 statement. “Some of these injuries have been serious, including concussions, contusions/abrasions and internal organ injuries.”
Junior Rebecca Taylor supports the university’s ban on hoverboards but understands why some students could be upset with the ban.
“The university bans toaster ovens and such for the same reason, so I’m not surprised,” she said. “It does suck for students who may have gotten one over the holidays and thought they could use it at school.”
Senior Tommy Thevenet agrees with Public Safety’s new hoverboard policy.
“I think it’s an unfortunate necessity,” he said. “As cool as hoverboards are, there’s too much risk in having them on campus.”
