Carolina Alumni Review - May/June 2007

department’s ability to upgrade the systems in each of the dorms. As it stands, the remaining dorms will not all be renovated for another 10 years unless extra funding is found.

“We have a timeline that says if we’re able to get some exterior money outside student rents from the state, that would cause us to do things more quickly, but if we’ve got to use our own monies, it would take much longer,” Lofgren said.

The department recently sent a proposal to the UNC System in hopes of getting more funding for renovation projects. If the state is able to assist the department in its renovation efforts, all of the dorms could have sprinklers within three or four years instead of 10, Hicks said.

UNC has experienced only a few minor on-campus fires in the past 15 years.

After the Phi Gam fire, a comprehensive fire safety program was adopted by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the town passed an ordinance requiring all Greek houses to add sprinkler systems by 2001. The additions were paid for entirely by the organizations, without University or town money.

“Because [the Phi Gam fire] happened here on our campus, even the students who were not around then, they feel more connected to it and they take more responsibility for [fire safety],” said Jenny Levering, assistant director for the Greek office.

Though money has been the bottom line in determining how many dorms can be updated each year, Mitchell said he knows all administrators have the students in the front of their minds.

“You really can’t put a price on someone’s life,” he said.

The dorms without sprinkler systems are Avery, Craige, Ehringhaus, Everett, Grimes, Hinton James, Lewis, Mangum, Manly, Odum Village (currently being used for overflow during South Campus high-rise renovations), Parker, Ruffin, Stacy, Teague and Whitehead.

— Lindsay Michel

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