This year, incidences of students covering their smoke detectors have been reported at a much higher rate than usual, causing University officials to consider revising the punishment for such actions.On Nov. 5 and 6, the University Environmental Health and Safety Department, along with Facilities, Public Safety, Residence Life and the Waltham Fire Department, conducted biannual fire drills.

Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan told the Justice that it appeared that many people were not evacuating the buildings during the fire drills in Rosenthal Quad. He explained that when the Waltham Fire Department went into different suites, they found several smoke detectors that were covered. He said that their curiosity peaked when they realized that students were violating fire safety procedure.

Erika Lamarre, director of student conduct and development, told the Justice, "The University has the potential to be fined $1,000 per covered smoke detector [by the city of Waltham]." She said that the amount of danger that it poses to the entire building when even one smoke detector is covered "is enormous. And the possibility of injury or death in case of a fire with a smoke detector that's covered is something that I can't emphasize enough."

Dean of Student Life Richard Sawyer said that Brandeis has been fined.

Callahan told the Justice that since the University was in violation 23 times for each of the covered smoke detectors, it is possible that the city of Waltham could "cite us $23,000 worth of fines." He said that during the drill that took place over Nov. 5 and 6, the "majority of the violations" were in Rosenthal Quad.

Lamarre wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "The fire chief is not happy with us right now."

In an e-mail to the Justice, Lamarre revealed that Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo sent a letter to Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins summarizing the concerns of the fire drill. Cardillo elaborated that the letter included details about the $1,000 fine per covered smoke detector that the University will have to pay. He also explained that individuals responsible for disabling fire protection may face a year in jail according to the state law.

Cardillo confirmed the 23 violations and explained that the "smoke detectors were covered with bags in rooms and hallways." Andrew Finn from University Services, who was present at the drills, revealed in an e-mail to the Justice that covered sprinkler heads, propped-open fire doors and a variety of decorating lights hanging on sprinkler pipes were also found.

Finn wrote that the "University Environmental Health and Safety Department and the Waltham Fire Department were dismayed and very concerned when the scope of the covered smoke detectors was realized by the end of [Nov. 6]."

Sawyer revealed that [Student Life] "has been concerned with covered smoke detectors for a while." Lamarre explained in her e-mail that five times as many students "have been referred for fire safety violations" this semester than for the fall semester of last year. Sawyer said that students in the past who covered their smoke detectors were referred to the student judicial process.

Daniela Montoya-Fontalvo '11, who lives in Rosenthal East, told the Justice that she and her suitemates were written up for covering their smoke detector this October when they were throwing a birthday party for a friend. She explained that they covered it because they didn't want the birthday candles on the cake to set the alarm off.

Brian, a member of the Class of 2009 who wished to remain anonymous, said that he covered his smoke detector during the second half of his sophomore year and again in his junior year. He said that he covered the detector so that he could burn incense and smoke inside his room. He recalls being told by the police to uncover the smoke detector, but admitted, "then we put it right back on." Although Brian was aware of the "irresponsibility" of the act at the time, he reasoned that "if there's a real fire, the bag [covering the smoke detector] would actually probably melt and the sprinklers will go off first."

However, Finn wrote, "Keeping the smoke detectors uncovered is critical to the early-warning nature of the detectors in discovering smoldering fires for the safety of all building occupants."

Finn elaborated in his e-mail that on Nov. 14 of this year, Fire Safety Think Tank, a panel hosted by Lamarre and attended by representatives from various departments, discussed the "root causes and methods to help educate students." The issue was also raised at the Personal Safety Committee meeting. Callahan, who is the chair of the committee, said that the committee is interested in creating posters to make the student body aware of the fire safety procedure, wrote Finn.

Callahan explained that the University is exploring a variety of different options in order to respond to the smoke detector issue. He said, "I believe that the office of student affairs is looking to initiate fines for situations when they discover that people have covered their smoke detectors."

"Everyone should understand that disabling, bypassing, destroying or tampering with a life safety device is not only against the law but it puts everyone in the building at risk," wrote Finn.

-Rebecca Klein contributed reporting