The already stressful process of taking finals was taken to extremes yesterday as MSU students in University Hall had to flee classrooms, finals in hand, as a result of suspicious fires. From the Record...
Blazes were reported in the second, third and fourth floor men’s roomsat University Hall, one of the main academic buildings at Montclair State University.“It was a mob scene,” said Laila Agamie, 22, a senior from Little Falls, who was taking exams when the fire alarms rang.
Teachers ended up collecting papers from students outside while investigators worked inside.
The incident follows several other trash can fires reported in the men’s rooms at University Hall, students and teachers said.
More about the fires, here.
Update: MSU sends out this email...
Over the last few weeks, several small fires have been purposely set in two University buildings. The most recent incidents occurred in University Hall on Wednesday evening. The University response to these incidents has been immediate, and fortunately no injuries have occurred, although the incidents have caused great inconvenience to University students and faculty.The University is taking every possible initiative to safeguard our students, faculty, and staff and to protect our facilities. At the same time, the University Police Department, in conjunction with other state agencies, is pursuing the investigation of this matter as a highest priority, and any individuals found to be involved in these incidents will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Any member of our community who has any information that might aid investigators in the apprehension of the individuals responsible for these incidents is requested to call University Police immediately at 973-655-5222. All calls will be kept confidential.
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Comments (11)
A student who didn't study for finals?
Jeez, I remember the Blanton Hall fire of '88 at MS(C).
Scary times.
Someone threw a cigarette over a balcony into some dry hay used for Fall decorations and POOF-- raging fire in the middle of the night.
Glad no one was hurt here.
And after Seton Hall, I hope that any fool found to have started one ends up in jail.
Gotta be some slightly-mental goober with bad grades. Jesus, what a middle-school move.
And don't forget the Seton Hall dorm fire that killed three students.
I finished my degree at MSC in 1982. While I was there I found no appreciable difference in the student body mentality than what I encountered in high school. It really was very much like high school. A lot of the kids, all several years younger than me were very immature and seemed only to be there to satisfy some vague mental notion that college was a thing you were 'supposed' to do after high school.
I went there because it was cheap, close, and had a computer science program.
Come to think of it, I just described myself right out of high school!
One of the students back then was defacing school property with a 'Pink Floyd' tag. It was everywhere in giant pink marker ink. There was a concerted effort to find the culprit but as far as I know, he was never found.
There was a rathskeller on campus back then that served beer and wine. It was a pretty busy place at all hours.
MB,
Yes. College is very much like HS. Although depending on the Dept. this may be less so.
But I'm unsure of the "student body mentality" you speak. Did you commute?
If so, you're experience has nothing in common with those who live on campus.
As an adult, I lived in a dorm at BU as a Faculty-in-Residence and didn't see much of a difference.
However, I can usually tell the difference between a commuter and one who lives (or is very involved) on campus.
I was totally mature in college. I swear. Never out of line. Not once. A model citizen......
what a bunch of idiots.
1. Finals have not yet started at MSU
2. In the past few years incidents like this have increased at MSU, and I can't help but wonder if it's because the president is "growing the college" (what an annoying phrase) as fast as she can.
3. This morning, another incident seems to have occurred.
My dog started the fire.