Simple hysteria

Now that the residence halls have banned halogen lamps, it seems apparent that officials of Iowa State are just as susceptible to hysteria as the rest of the American public.

Despite the fact that residence hall rooms are very poorly lit (ask anyone who works there), Randy Alexander and his ad hoc committee made a decision to remove the effective lamps from the students’ rooms.

Halogen lamps have become the lawn darts of the 1990s. A few years ago, the government banned lawn darts because a few moronic individuals couldn’t use them properly.

We can draw a parallel between that and the halogen lamp issue. Since some idiot left his bedding close enough to his lamp to start a fire, the rest of the residents of ISU have to suffer.

Why should they be forced to comply with a university order when they followed the suggestions of the residence halls concerning these potentially hazardous lights? The responsible people, once again, are suffering because of the actions of the senseless.

Instead of solving the problem of inadequate lighting in dormitory rooms, Alexander and his associates have instead chosen to eliminate an inexpensive solution for students.

Halogen lamps are potentially dangerous, but name one thing in society that isn’t dangerous in the hands of some people. Safety might be the concern of the university, but if that’s true, they could legitimately ban all electrical appliances in dormitories.

If these lamps are used properly and with adequate precautions, they are safe. There’s no reason why halogen lamps should be banned.

There are better solutions than that.

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Safety precaution

So the university has banned halogen lamps. Yes, it’s a definite infringement on your lamp-buying rights, but it could also save you a lot of money in the long run.

Think about this: According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site, the tubular light bulbs in most halogen lamps can reach extreme temperatures of 1,200 degrees and can start fires if curtains, clothes or other materials come into contact with them.

Since their creation in 1983, at least 100 fires and 10 deaths have been reported nationwide due to halogen lamps, according to CPSC.

Now picture an Iowa State residence hall room — an oversized refrigerator box packed full with the life belongings of two college students. While a halogen lamp provides a nice alternative to the fluorescent glare from the overhead ceiling lights, it also creates a prime environment for fires.

The CPSC warns consumers to keep halogen lamps away from lofts, bunk beds and curtains. Remember that dorm room? OK, there are few places in that room where a six-foot lamp is not going to be near a combustible item.

Is it fair for those living in the residence halls to continually worry about the neighbor next door who gets crazy and dances to R.E.M. as he throws his clothes around his room? It only takes one pair of plaid boxers flung atop a halogen lamp to burn down an entire residence hall floor.

It’s a significant worry. If your room burns down, the university does not compensate you for the loss of your Brad Pitt posters, your Budweiser signs or even the new Gap sweater Grandma got you for Christmas.

We can look at the ban as an unnecessary, militaristic action by the university. Or we can look at it from the safety aspect and realize there are stupid people in the world who will put the lamps right next to their curtains and cause blazing fires that inconvenience everyone.

So, while the ban is unfair in that the university is governing what a residence hall person can buy, it’s also keeping the hundreds of dollars you spent on textbooks this week safe from a fire.