2008 Woodie Awards
Elevators leave some students stranded
Katie Broderick
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Several students say they have had problems with campus elevators, especially those living in UTC Place.
Kingsport Tenn., junior Derek Gosma got caught in an elevator in the 3000 building on Nov. 4.
He said he and a friend were stuck for about 30 to 45 minutes. They called 911, and the police and fire department came to let them out of the elevator.
Gosma said he has gotten stuck in elevators on campus before. He and another friend got stuck coming up the elevator from the gym once, but power was restored within two minutes.
Taylor Nelson, a Jackson, Tenn., sophomore and resident of the 5000 building, agreed UTC Place elevators are problematic.
"The elevator is really slow and it takes forever. That's why I don't ride it," she said.
"I've heard of [people getting stuck] ... but it hasn't happened to me personally," she added.
Roger Dickson, executive business manager of UTC Place, said there were seven service calls in Place buildings in November, five in the 3000 building and two in the 4000 building.
Dickson encouraged students to come by the Place office if they have an issue with an elevator.
"If an RA doesn't see [a broken elevator] on their round, and no one reports it, unfortunately it could be broken a day or two before we find out about it," he said.
Doug Silver, director of facilities operations, said as far as entrapment goes in campus elevators, it is fairly uncommon.
Silver said if a person does get stuck in an elevator, they can press the emergency button and reach a dispatcher available 24 hours a day to get them help.
"If there are issues like physical or emotional distress, a call is placed to the fire department who is trained to remove people from elevators. I have heard they are pretty prompt," he added.
The campus buildings with the highest incidence of elevator entrapment is the arena, followed by the Fine Arts Center and a service elevator in the library, said Silver.
Both Dickson and Silver said the elevators have safety and maintenance inspections monthly.
Kingsport Tenn., junior Derek Gosma got caught in an elevator in the 3000 building on Nov. 4.
He said he and a friend were stuck for about 30 to 45 minutes. They called 911, and the police and fire department came to let them out of the elevator.
Gosma said he has gotten stuck in elevators on campus before. He and another friend got stuck coming up the elevator from the gym once, but power was restored within two minutes.
Taylor Nelson, a Jackson, Tenn., sophomore and resident of the 5000 building, agreed UTC Place elevators are problematic.
"The elevator is really slow and it takes forever. That's why I don't ride it," she said.
"I've heard of [people getting stuck] ... but it hasn't happened to me personally," she added.
Roger Dickson, executive business manager of UTC Place, said there were seven service calls in Place buildings in November, five in the 3000 building and two in the 4000 building.
Dickson encouraged students to come by the Place office if they have an issue with an elevator.
"If an RA doesn't see [a broken elevator] on their round, and no one reports it, unfortunately it could be broken a day or two before we find out about it," he said.
Doug Silver, director of facilities operations, said as far as entrapment goes in campus elevators, it is fairly uncommon.
Silver said if a person does get stuck in an elevator, they can press the emergency button and reach a dispatcher available 24 hours a day to get them help.
"If there are issues like physical or emotional distress, a call is placed to the fire department who is trained to remove people from elevators. I have heard they are pretty prompt," he added.
The campus buildings with the highest incidence of elevator entrapment is the arena, followed by the Fine Arts Center and a service elevator in the library, said Silver.
Both Dickson and Silver said the elevators have safety and maintenance inspections monthly.
