The Griffin: volume 53, issue 10 - Nov. 19, 1982

              In order to prevent potentially dangerous situations in high rise buildings the special fire code states that alarms must be checked on a daily basis and an above average amount of fire alarms must be installed. The Churchill Tower is checked and equipped to meet this fire code. Every building on the campus is checked annually for fire safety. Members of the Public Safety department fill out extensive school-college fire inspection reports required by state law for most schools and colleges in New It is Public Safety policy here to have two fire drills in each building on the campus during the academic year with the exception of the residence halls where three fire drills are given, with at least one during the hours between sunset and sunrise. York. Colleges in Buffalo and the four other largest cities in New York are exempt from the required inspection but Canisius, Buffalo State, and the University of Buffalo officials require the inspection to ensure fire safety. Assembly Majority opposes proposed activities period Madonna Privitere/THE GRIFFIN of the Tower was thoroughly searched by Public Safety officers but no signs of fire were found. No one on the floor at the time of the incident savJ1 any suspicious behavior around the two alarm boxes on that floor. The Tower was partially evacuated while the fire department was responding to the call but people stopped leaving when the false alarm, was determined. The fire alarm on the 10th floor of the Churchill Academic Tower was pulled at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 12th, by an unidentified person, according to Mr. Sam Puma, director of Public Safety here. by Suzanne Cupolo Responding to the alarm were two engines, a hook and ladder, and a battalion from the Buffalo fire department, along with several Canisius Public Safety of- When the alarm was initially pulled in the Tower it triggered a bell in the Public Safety office and Puma was then able to identify the origin of the alarm. The 10th floor Before the fire department arrived at the scene, it had already been discerned by public safety officers that there had been a false alarm. Puma said the fire department was then notified that the alarm was false but the equipment arrived at the scene for precautionary measures. False Alarm Triggered On Tenth Floor Tower (continued on page 3) If you disagree with the results of this poll, you should definitely indicate this to your class representatives. For ultimately they represent you, and their minds may be changed. However, the potential benefits of an activities period must be weighted against scheduling problems and the scheduling of students. A careful study should be carried out to determine the feasibility and ultimate desirability of an activities period. William Johnson, senior: In theory I favor the period. I think a free time would permit students to participate in clubs to a greater extent. Additionally, an activities period would allow students to attend lectures and progranns presented by academic departments. favored it and half didn't. I'm wondering if students really know what an activities period is. Here's how the senators we polled stand on the activities period issue: Karen Beimler, senior: I would favor an activities period during the day. Having been both a commuter and a dorm student, I feel time free for club activities (or anything) is a good idea. I polled the girls on my floor in the residence hall and about half We'd probably have a run on the cafeteria and the library. Tony Shelley, junior: I think that anyone that wants to be involved is already involved. If we did have an activities period, you would just have students there in clubs who really didn't want to be there and couldn't find anything better to do with their new free time. I do not, however, feel that an activities period would be an effective means of alleviating this problem. Students desire to become involved would not increase as the result of an added hour to our schedule. Kathy Twist, junior: Student apathy at Canisius is a definite problem as evidenced in the poor attendance at many club meetings and college sponsored events. The activities period committee and the senators need the opinion of the student body so we may make the proper decision. Chris Johnson, sophomore: I am personally in favor of a thorough investigation of the activities period. Anyone who has committed himself to a negative answer is making a premature decision. However, in light of the constituents of the student body which I represent, I feel an activities period would not be in the overall benefit of their interests. I say this for I believe it would be a restraining factor on the schedules of the majority of the students. Regina DelVecchio, sophomore: I personally feel that an activities period would be beneficial to the Canisius College community. Karen Hoyden, freshman: I think that if people want to be involved in activities they will find the time to do so. ticipate in a function we may not be interested in. Clubs are great — but not everyone is into clubs. Those of us who are trying to be full-time students and hold parttime jobs shouldn't be forced to extend out class day to par- Here are some responses Jim Hayes, freshman: Needs of students at Canisius are very different. Those who are interested and have the time to be involved in clubs should be encouraged to do so. Though the class representatives were clearly against the proposal, the non-voting executive members cast a 4 for, 1 against decision. On Oct. 26 the Senate discussed the pros and cons of this situation and it was put to a "straw vote." The results were 7 for, 9 against, and two undecided. However, in the recent Griffin poll, the senators presented a 4 for, 15 against vote with 19 opinions returned. asked is, "Do we have the facilities to accommodate all of these people out of classes at once?" At the present time, many clubs are forced to share club rooms. Another question which must be The main argument against this proposal concerns commuter students who have job responsibilities after school. Will this extra hour force them to quit a job? Should people be forced to stay an extra hour? It is proposed to help round out the life of the Canisius student, extending beyond academics in the true Jesuit tradition. It could also help build school spirit. This period would allow time for departmental presentations, pep rallies, and club meetings. Basically this period would last one hour per week, during which no classes would be scheduled. This discussion has specifically dealt with the possible formation of an activities period set aside out of the school day to facilitate participation in extracurricular activities.by Mark Braniff Many members of the Undergraduate Student Assembly have claimed that there is a student apathy in school towards extracurricular activities this year. Gridders Cap Off Mature Season — page 10 Language Skills are Job-Related — page 4 Crawdaddy's Restaurant Reiew — see Kaleidoscope In This Issue... THE GRIFE "OVER A HALF CENTURY IN PRINT" VOLUME LIII, NUMBER X NOVEMBER 19, 1982 Madonna Privitere 'THE GRIFFIN The fire department responds to the false alarm, Evacuating the Tower in case of fire is a very difficult problem because of its height. There is a special fire code for buildings like the Tower that are taller than six stories. Because a hook and ladder can only reach the sixth floor of any building special safety regulations for high-rise buildings must be set. If a fire broke out above the sixth floor in a building it could not be attacked externally nor could its occupants be removed by firemen on the hook and ladder. The fire must be fought and people be evacuated internally which could be difficult and dangerous.