$100 Hallway Fine Unique to Brainerd

A Brainerd Commons policy of fining students for leaving items in the hallways of residence halls has led to Brainerd’s levying fines of hundreds of dollars on students.

Each Commons attempts to discourage students from leaving items in the hall, and when contacted for comment, representatives from each Commons responded that the primary issue at hand was fire safety.

Cook Commons Dean Ian Sutherland wrote in an email, “There is no hard and fast rule for how Cook Commons responds to possessions left in halls, corridors, stairways and landings, etc. But in general, the problem created is related to ‘blocking the egress’ and falls under general violations of the fire code and are subject to a fine of $50.00.” Cook Commons has not fined any students this year.

Representatives of Wonnacott, Ross and Atwater Commons confirmed that their Commons have similar policies. Neither Wonnacott nor Atwater Commons have fined any students this year, but Ross Commons has fined students who failed to remove items from hallways after being asked to do so.

Visiting Professor of Comparative Literature and Dean of Brainerd Commons Natasha Chang said that Brainerd Commons policy is to fine students 100 dollars for each item left in the hallways of first-year and sophomore residence halls affiliated with Brainerd, that is Stewart Hall and Hepburn Hall. She strives to be “clear in communication, consistent in enforcement” with regard to the policy, and emailed residents of Stewart during J-term saying said the policy would be strictly enforced.

Chang said that there are several reasons for imposing such fines on students for violation of the rules regarding hallways in residence halls.

“First of all [items left in the hallway are] a fire safety violation — things that are in the hallway are considered to be blocking the means of egress,” she said. “That’s why we take it seriously. The policy is also meant to support custodial staff as well as the community in the dorm — it’s not nice to come home to a dorm with a hallway full of stuff.”

Environmental, Health and Safety Coordinator Jen Kazmierczak confirmed that, per College policy written in the Student Handbook, any items in the hallway might constitute obstacles for fire safety purposes. Custodial Services is responsible for correcting and reporting fire safety issues, but Commons Deans enforce fire safety policies.

Custodial Team Leader Liza Rheaume agreed that items in the hall pose a fire hazard, noting that in the event of a fire in a residence hall, smoke may obscure items left in the hallway which might cause students to trip. Therefore, she said, students who leave items in the hall may not only endanger themselves but also their neighbors.

Brainerd student Linley Shaw ’17 was fined during J-term for leaving her ski boots in the hallway of Stewart. A member of the Alpine Ski Team, Shaw missed an email about enforcement of the policy. Shaw returned from practice at about 11 one morning and left her wet ski boot liners next to her ski boots, with her mittens tucked inside the boots.

Thirty minutes later, Shaw was told that although technically there were six items — two boots, two liners and two mittens — she would only be fined 300 dollars instead of the possible 600. She met with her Commons Coordinator and came away with the fine lowered to 200 dollars, which will be added to her tuition bill.

Linley said that she understands the ramifications of crowded hallways for fire safety, but “200 dollars is a lot of money for 30 minutes outside my door without receiving a warning and without even having seen the email.”

Chang noted that this year, five students in Hepburn or Stewart had been fined, out of approximately 300 living in those two residence halls.

“The vast majority of people are extremely respectful of the rules and follow them, a small percentage don’t listen to them and don’t follow, and those are the ones who get in trouble,” Chang said.

According to Chang, the money from the fines goes into the Commons account, which funds community events such as the recent Bite of Brainerd.

“I’m aware as a Commons Dean that students have different economic capacities. If it’s taxing for students to pay that fine I work with them to come up with a creative solution that works for them.” Chang said.

She suggested that a student could work at several Brainerd Commons dinners over the course of their four years at the College in order to pay their fines, or their roommate or somebody else could pay their fines for them.

Lottie Hedden ’14 was fined 300 dollars for leaving her shoes in the hallway during her first year at the College.

“I thought 300 dollars was excessive, and that the policy sends the wrong message about how much cash Middlebury students have access to,” Hedden said.