Ears Perked as Fire Alarms Define One Week in October

By Rosney Herrera | Published by November 18, 2021

Kean University has been fertile ground for a series of emergency “fire” alarms and medical emergencies during the week of Oct. 15-19, according to the Kean University Police blotter.

On the morning of Oct. 15, a fire alarm went off at Freshman Residence Hall, resulting in a few minutes of panic among the students. What triggered the fire alarm is still unknown and is under investigation, according to the report.

Three days later, occupants of Burch Hall were startled by the ringing of another fire alarm at around 11:20 in the morning. Investigations revealed that the fire alarm had been triggered by food burning in the microwave.

At around 7:15 in the evening that same day, another fire alarm went off at Cougar Hall. After three hours of investigation, it was discovered that this fire alarm had also been set off by burning food from a microwave.

Health emergencies were also rampant. On the afternoon of Oct. 15, police received a welfare check call from Cougar Hall. The call had been made by a person concerned for someone’s well-being. The police said the person (presumed ill) was a visitor, and confirmed that everything was alright.

Another medical emergency happened at the Down’s Hall-Public Safety Headquarters that same evening, just before 6 p.m. The student, who was complaining of a severe headache, was rushed to Trinitas Hospital where he was found to have suffered a possible concussion.

Later that evening, a student at Wilkins Theater reported a possible missing child. Apparently, she was trying to call the child, but the child was not picking up the phone and called the Kean University Police, who checked on the child and informed the guardian that everything was all right.

In another medical emergency, a student was struck in the head by a cabinet door at the Miron Student Center but, according to the police, the student refused to seek medical advice.

 On Oct. 16, a student was rushed to Trinitas Hospital from the Alumni Stadium after being found intoxicated and vomiting. The police have not said if the person was an alumnus or a current student at Kean.

In other related news, police are calling on concerned persons to visit their premises and check a debit card that was lost and found in the Cafeteria at Upperclassmen Residence Hall on Oct.19. Any claimant should be able to prove ownership of the debit card.

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