In January, I wrote a column discussing a widespread fire safety problem on campus. This problem had centered around the discovery of a number of covered smoke detectors in dorm rooms and the subsequent arising issues, including charges to the University from the Waltham Fire Department.In that column, I argued that the specifics of how room inspections were to be done seemed to conflict with students' rights and responsibilities. However, I wholeheartedly agreed that fire safety is something very important and that this needed to be understood by those who covered the smoke detectors. But random spot checks were not the right way to go about finding a final solution to the problem.

With this in mind, it was very heartening to learn of the fire safety program planned for the first two days of April. The event, run by the Waltham Fire Department, the Office of Student Development and Conduct and the Student Union will attempt to help educate students about fire safety by distributing informational pamphlets and making firefighters available to answer any questions that students may have.

The event will include a 20-foot fire safety trailer with the appearance of a typical dorm room whose interior will be able to simulate different levels of smoke during a fire. The trailer will be situated between Sherman Dining Hall and Rosenthal Quad.

Such a thing may seem unnecessary for college students, many of whom have presumably gone through various fire education programs at some point in their lives. But fire emergencies are extremely hectic, and a refresher on the finer points of what to do in case of fire can never hurt.

Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly in the current situation, there was clearly a need for a reminder on campus about the danger of fires and how people need to better their fire safety tactics.

While the chance of a fire is, thankfully, remote, this does not excuse people from placing themselves, their friends and their property at risk simply to avoid detection of certain activities in which they wish to engage. This, it seems, was lost on the people responsible for the fire problems that were discovered on campus. Further education about fire safety, as ridiculous as it may seem, is certainly warranted here.

Continuing further in this vein, it seems that education in particular is the solution to the problem of covered smoke detectors. While threats of monetary and judicial action may be effective in the short term, such threats treat the symptoms that are being manifested, not the underlying problem.

Fire safety is not an issue that is particular to Brandeis or any other university or institution for that matter; rather, it is something that continues to be vital throughout the lives of all the students here.

Due to this continuing relevance, it is necessary to adopt a long-term perspective on determining a solution to the problem of negligence in a fire emergency-and this is what it seems has been done. I applaud those responsible for organizing this program.

Even if only a small number of students take advantage of it, it will be worthwhile. Each little bit that can be achieved to improve proper fire safety techniques is a step forward.

Everyone can learn a lesson from the smoke detector fiasco and the subsequent resultant actions. When someone messes up, there is almost always a proper way to go about correcting the behavior to minimize the possibility of reoccurrence, and this is what finally seems to be happening. This is the right way to go about finding a solution. Fire safety is important regardless of our age. Let us not neglect it