Students Frustrated by Unnecessary Disposal of Furniture

Last spring, large green dumpsters dotted the PEA campus as students and faculty alike threw away countless couches, chairs and futons. After news broke of an all-campus ban on upholstered dorm furniture, many Academy community members disposed of thousands of dollars worth of items, only to later find out that many of the pieces they threw away would be allowed back in dorms this fall.

Students were first informed about the new fire code’s rules on furniture by an email sent from Dean Mischke on May 15, 2015. The email explained that upholstered furniture items would no longer be permitted in student dormitories, but that the deans had pledged to work with Facilities Management in finding “approved (properly fire-rated) furniture solutions.”

According to the email, the new rule came from a compromise between the Campus Safety Department and the Exeter Fire Department in an effort to make sure Exeter complied with national fire safety standards. To prepare for its implementation, the Academy helped organize ways for students to remove unapproved couches through either donation, disposal or a shipment home.

Two months later, a second email was sent out, this time clarifying the term “fire-rated” and expanding on the types of furniture that would still be allowed.

“I heard the news after I threw out the couch, so I was angry, but couldn’t do anything to get it back. The Dunbar common room was also filled with perfectly clean, almost new couches that we were forced to throw out.”

The email defined approved furniture as any items that met the NFPA 260 or Cal 117 fire codes, typically marked by a tag. According to Mischke, this email came later than the original one due to difficulties in making the distinction between what furniture is and is not fire-rated.

However, for some students the email was too late—they had already thrown away their furniture before the exceptions had been clarified.

In addition, the list of suggested furniture provided in the email consisted of expensive options, with furniture ranging from around 600 to 1500 dollars.

Lower Stella Woo was one of the students who threw out her upholstered couch before being informed about any exceptions that could potentially deem it fire-rated. She was frustrated by the idea that she may have been able to keep it.

“I was not aware of the exception because no one had told me,” she said. “I heard the news after I threw out the couch, so I was angry, but couldn’t do anything to get it back. The Dunbar common room was also filled with perfectly clean, almost new couches that we were forced to throw out.”

Similarly, history instructor Erik Wade noted that most students were “likely unaware of the ‘tag rule’” before they disposed of their new furniture. Even as a dorm head, he was still initially unaware of it. “[The exception] makes a pretty big difference because it seems a good bit of money was wasted after putting this good furniture in ‘waste’ bins,” Wade said.

Upper JP Mullins was equally disappointed with the confusion at the end of last year, and expressed his discontent at not having a couch to use this year.

“I was somewhat annoyed by the fact that I had to get rid of it, mostly for sentimental reasons, but also having a couch in my room was a great addition to having friends in my room or people sleeping over,” Mullins said. “Another kid in my dorm also had to remove his instead of giving it to a returning kid in our dorm.”

Still, the Academy expressed support for students who had to get rid of their furniture.

Mischke said she empathized with the students who were disappointed in having to get rid of their furniture. However, she explained the rule was implemented for safety reasons and cannot be ignored.

Chief of Planning and Facilities Roger Wakeman further expanded on the concern for student and faculty safety that motivated the new fire code.

“Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of our students, employees and families, and we work with the regulatory authorities to ensure this happens and to properly administer the applicable codes and regulations,” Wakeman said. “We appreciate the collaboration with the Dean of Students office in the implementation of these clarifications, and we continue to work with students and families to ensure furniture meets the appropriate standards.”

Unfortunately, there is little that can be done for students who already disposed of their furniture, and going forward Campus Safety will be conducting room inspections to ensure that all rooms meet the necessary fire code specifications.

However, Mischke said that people have seemed relatively understanding so far. She has also been impressed by the different solutions that student have come up with to keep their rooms decorated and encouraged more Exonians to look into these options.

“To be honest with you, we have had a few questions here and there, but relatively people have been understanding,” Mischke said. “There are solutions, and people have come up with creative ones such as inflatable furniture or some of the newer bean bag chairs. These really are interesting ideas.”