By Tara Conry

With the recent concern over fire safety, the plant department and Public Safety are creating plans to implement sprinkler systems in residential halls and buildings around campus.

The installation of the new sprinklers will begin this summer in parts of Netherlands, Richard Drury, the director of physical planning at the plant department said. The process will continue through the summer of 2005 for Colonial Square dorms and other residential halls will receive sprinklers in the near future.

They are also considering installing the sprinkler systems in Axinn Library, Twin Oaks, Liberty and Republic halls. There is no exact plan on how many sprinklers will be installed or where they will be located.

Sprinklers were not installed sooner because “they were not in required at the time the dorms were built in 1980 to 1983, and they are still not required,” Drury said.

An exact estimate regarding the cost of the sprinkler systems has not been reached, but Drury believes it will be cost the University several millions of dollars.

“I think that the sprinkler installation is very good because it will prevent people from smoking in the dorm,” freshman Sean Moran said. “Most of all it will lessen the threat of a freak fire breaking out that may kill many students.”

Tragic incidents, such as the fire that swept Seton Hall University, have raised awareness about fire safety on campuses throughout the country.

“I’m sure many of us had no idea that there weren’t sprinklers, which is more dangerous than not having them at all,” freshman Netherlands resident, Nick Bilotta said. “If there had been a fire, I think we would’ve expected it to be put out.”