I am infuriated by the coverage of the accident that claimed the life of a student at Ohio State by the local news networks.

Once hearing about the accident the first thought through my mind was, “Well, although it breaks my heart, it doesn’t surprise me.” Believe me, having lost multiple classmates in high school, and hearing about abductions such as Brian Schaffer, I am mortally saddened to hear of such a tragedy. Especially one that could have been avoided.

Having lived in Park hall from the fall of 2004 to the spring of 2005, I can vouch for the terrible condition of the residence hall elevators. My brother, who lived in Stradley from the fall of 2000 to the summer of 2001, also complained of their sad condition. I can remember there would be days in Park Hall when only one elevator was fully functional for an entire day, delaying students getting to class on time.

Why were the elevators not investigated then? Why does it have to take the death of a student to realize the money that was put into the residence halls over the summer for air-conditioning and wireless internet should have been used for necessities, like safe elevators?

Now let me refer to the north campus residence halls. My sophomore year of college at OSU was spent in Drackett Tower. On any given day an elevator filled with one to three people would shake, shimmy and have slight falls. The doors to the elevators would open before the elevator stopped. The lights were dim and needed replacing and parts of the inside were held together with tape.

Ridiculous.

Now I understand that much of my anger is coming from the sadness that I feel for this poor kid’s family and friends. But, it’s time for the big badasses at OSU to tuck their scarlet and grey tail between their legs, and admit they screwed up.

Bevin SchleimerCommunications

While my condolences go out to the family and friends of Andy Polakowski because of his needless death, I sit here and try to figure out who is at fault.

Is it the university because they own and are responsible for the elevators on campus? Is it the company that actually made the elevator? Is it the fire department for not responding quick enough to help the passengers get out? Is it the hall staff at Stradley for not being more aware of what occurs in their building? Or is it Andy Polakowski himself and the other 23 individuals who disregarded the maximum occupancy warning which is written inside of every elevator and decided to cram into an elevator like clowns in a clown car?

Who would ever think it would be a good idea to suspend 24 people in an elevator that was most likely at least 500-1000 pounds. over its limit? Or better yet, why would you allow someone to attempt to climb out of an elevator that has not been shut off?

The lack of maturity and common sense of all 24 passengers in the elevator has led to this horrible tragedy, which leads me to wonder when are all these students going to stop acting like clowns?

Albert HoytOSU Alum 2004