Inadequate railings serious dorm hazard

The short, thin railings on Gateway House's top floors put students at great risk. Wind speeds are higher and the view is dizzying at ten floors up.

Although Gateway House is reserved for upper classmen, which makes it a much quieter and safer residence hall than others, the potential for disaster still exists.

Any student coming home exhausted after a long day would find his or herself nervous at the thought of walking near the railing, no matter how safe it has been proven.

This fear is understandable, given that the railing is only waist-high. One of the resident advisors' greatest fears is having an intoxicated resident fall from the highest level.

The Hale Aloha towers, at least, reduce that danger with thicker walls. On top of that, the dorm laundromat and kitchen are the only things near the balcony, not any of the residents' rooms.

Student Housing Service should look into either moving the railing closer to the doors or installing a higher railing. This could be planned now for construction over winter break.

Doing so would give Gateway House residents much greater peace of mind.