Lesli Marchese, Campus Carrier News Editor
Over 30 colleges and universities across the country have banned hoverboards from campuses, and on Tuesday, Berry joined the list.
Hoverboards are small, electric, self-balancing personal transportation devices. They typically consist of two wheels connected by a platform, where the rider stands and controls the device with sensors. They are not the levitating hoverboards of “Back to the Future.”
There have been numerous reports from across the country that show that hoverboards are exploding from overheating. Hoverboards also have been overcharging which can lead to battery problems. However, this isn’t just a problem in the United States. They have been banned from many places all over the world, including anywhere in the public by the United Kingdom, most university campuses and California theme parks, such as Disney Land and Legoland.
Here on Berry’s campus, we have very few students who use these scooters. But those who do say they are very convenient.
Senior Vedant Mehta said he used his board constantly last semester from his car to buildings, between buildings, and sometimes inside them.
“I rarely used to walk last semester,” Mehta said. “This semester I only use it when I’m going from one building to the other. But they are three times faster than regularly walking, so they’ll get you there on time, especially if you’re running late.”
According to Dean of Students Debbie Heida, Berry administration made the choice to ban the boards for safety reasons.
“It’s strictly a safety issue,” Heida said. “They’re actually kind of cool, so it’s not like we’re trying to remove a cool option. It is about safety. We really don’t want things to catch on fire.”
Administration has made it clear that this is not a permanent ban.
“We don’t think it’s a policy that will be here forever,” Heida said. “Manufacturers are going to have to get safer with this. And when they do, we’ll respond.”
However, students have varying feelings about the ban. Junior Malcholm Graham believes that students should have the choice about whether they use their boards.
“It’s not cool. I pay my tuition to go here, and it shouldn’t matter how I get around,” Graham said. “More people will get hurt from falling off than catching on fire. If we’re just banning everything you can fall off of, bikes, skateboards … cars – that doesn’t make sense.”
Some students feel the decision is right, but believe there should be exceptions.
“I understand that a lot of the airboards have caught on fire and it’s going around on the Internet,” Mehta said. “But the reason they’re catching on fire is because people aren’t buying them from the company that originally invented them – they’re buying the knockoffs from China because they’re cheaper. People have to understand that they’re so much less because they use cheap materials, especially in the batteries. They don’t have overcharge protection.”
According to Mehta, this lack of overcharge protection is what is causing many of the problems currently occurring with hoverboards.
Berry administration suggests that students take hoverboards home over Easter break. However, if students are unable to take them off campus, they will be stored in the Residence Life office in a fire-proof vault.