Carbon Monoxide Leak at University of Wisconsin-Miwaukee Handled Deplorably by Administration [EDITORIAL]

On Feb. 28, a carbon monoxide leak at a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee dormitory caused around 400 students to be evacuated, 17 of whom were hospitalized. The building, known as Cambridge Commons, lacked carbon monoxide detectors anywhere on its premises. The university’s higher-ups were unaware of the exposure until contacted by a concerned parent who requested a wellness check on their child’s roommate after their own child was treated for carbon monoxide exposure. Many students complained of dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Symptoms of CO exposure can become much worse if left untreated, leading to hallucinations, brain damage, seizures, and even death. This is an extremely serious problem, and we at MediaMilwaukee.com feel strongly that UWM as an institution handled it inexcusably, with an utter lack of urgency and care. 

When students go off to college from their respective homes, there is a certain level of trust which must occur, not only between student and university, but between parent/guardian and university as well. College acts as many people’s first experience living outside of their family home, where they no longer can be under the same supervision and care by their guardians. When seeing off their children or dependents, these guardians rely on the university to allay some of their anxieties about this newfound lessening of control. Yet, it is a parent who is to thank for the discovery of this dangerous exposure. From outside of the premises, a parent maintained better knowledge of the happenings of this dormitory than the administration of the very university to which it belongs. This is unacceptable.

Schools have become a frightening enough place as it is, with school shootings in the U.S. at an all time high. Further, students at UWM receive emergency alerts about robberies, shootings, and even dangerous weather on a very regular basis. Students here cannot feel safe in their neighborhood, and there is no solace for them inside their homes at UWM. The administration of a student’s own school is the last thing that should add to their fears. Still, students at UWM cannot even breathe the air there without danger. Not only did the administration fail to prevent such a frightening situation, but they failed to recognize it as well, relying on a parent, and failed to even inform and communicate in a timely manner, breaking the trust of everyone involved.

Why were there no carbon monoxide detectors installed? The university replies that the commercial building code does not require this– what is more important, what is required or what will keep your students safe? Is that not the number one priority for a university? Even since the incident, the detectors which were installed were dubbed merely temporary. Where was the emergency alert for the carbon monoxide leak? Failing to utilize this system for what is so clearly an emergency is not only unhelpful but actively negligent. Why were students not contacted in some other way? Many were left in the dark, confused and frightened. One student, Anna Welter, was even forgotten about, left inside awaiting her permission to exit the building as instructed.

After all of these egregious mistakes, UWM sent a watered-down apology which shirked their responsibility and disregarded the severity of the situation. The university’s lack of communication is indicative of a larger ideological issue within the administration: more care is given to public relations than public health and safety. Students were not even compensated until staging a protest; every part of the response by UWM feels as though it was enacted to ensure that all traces of this situation are forgotten about as soon as possible.  We demand that UWM’s administration install permanent carbon monoxide detectors in every dormitory by the time students return in the fall. We demand that the university put the safety of their students infinitely ahead of all other concerns, maintaining transparent communication. Emergency alerts should now include exactly this type of situation. Further, we implore the university to provide better planning and training for emergencies, so that students are not left confused, harmed, or forgotten in the future. UWM’s administration has let down its students, fellow staff, parents and guardians, and all who admire the work produced at their school. Student safety should be the utmost important factor in decision-making, and we will no longer tolerate anything less.