Franklin fires are a danger to students
By: Bruce Cairns, Associate Professor
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: Opinion
Congratulations to the men's and women's basketball teams in their ongoing quest for national titles. The success of these athletes is reflective of an accomplished, thoughtful and responsible student body that is one of the greatest assets at UNC.
With this in mind, I agree with The Daily Tar Heel editorial board that "UNC students are responsible enough to decide what to do about bonfires" after men's basketball victories.
When the Faculty Council passed a resolution last month encouraging the Chapel Hill and UNC community to refrain from setting and jumping through fires after victories, it was not interested in telling students what to do.
Rather we were appealing to a socially conscious and activist student body to consider concerns about these fires and the populations at risk.
The N.C. Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Health Care is the only American Burn Association verified burn center in the state and one of the busiest in the country.
Each year we see thousands of patients regardless of their ability to pay. We know all too well that burn injuries are a very nasty business - they maim, scar, cause severe pain and even kill. It takes only a few seconds for a burn to dramatically change someone's life.
The bonfires on Franklin Street after basketball games have caused serious injury. People burned during these celebrations have been admitted to the hospital, missed school and work, generated hospital bills in the tens of thousands of dollars and been scarred for life.
Even those who choose not to jump through the fires can be affected. Bystanders inadvertently can be pushed into a fire and combustible material can unexpectedly flare up, catching anyone unaware.
There is any number of accidental or intentional scenarios where large-scale tragedy might occur. In addition, some members of our town and state community are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of uncontrolled bonfires.
Known in psychiatry as juvenile firesetters, some young people do not have the capacity to make good judgments about fire and are a substantial risk to themselves and those around them.
With this in mind, I agree with The Daily Tar Heel editorial board that "UNC students are responsible enough to decide what to do about bonfires" after men's basketball victories.
When the Faculty Council passed a resolution last month encouraging the Chapel Hill and UNC community to refrain from setting and jumping through fires after victories, it was not interested in telling students what to do.
Rather we were appealing to a socially conscious and activist student body to consider concerns about these fires and the populations at risk.
The N.C. Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Health Care is the only American Burn Association verified burn center in the state and one of the busiest in the country.
Each year we see thousands of patients regardless of their ability to pay. We know all too well that burn injuries are a very nasty business - they maim, scar, cause severe pain and even kill. It takes only a few seconds for a burn to dramatically change someone's life.
The bonfires on Franklin Street after basketball games have caused serious injury. People burned during these celebrations have been admitted to the hospital, missed school and work, generated hospital bills in the tens of thousands of dollars and been scarred for life.
Even those who choose not to jump through the fires can be affected. Bystanders inadvertently can be pushed into a fire and combustible material can unexpectedly flare up, catching anyone unaware.
There is any number of accidental or intentional scenarios where large-scale tragedy might occur. In addition, some members of our town and state community are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of uncontrolled bonfires.
Known in psychiatry as juvenile firesetters, some young people do not have the capacity to make good judgments about fire and are a substantial risk to themselves and those around them.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Sourav Chaudhry
posted 3/21/07 @ 7:38 AM EST
Yeah, talk about it, buddy.
GO HEELS!
Coletta
posted 3/21/07 @ 9:19 AM EST
Props to the DTH for running this. Nice to see this issue from another viewpoint -- pretty much exemplifies the editorial page's mission.
(For the record, I plan to be on Franklin Street if the Heels win it all, and no amount of alcohol will get me anywhere near one of those stupid fires. (Continued…)
Charles Treadaway
posted 3/21/07 @ 9:21 AM EST
I agree, although the University should post sloov on fire duty.
Scott
posted 3/22/07 @ 5:30 PM EST
Nice letter. Glad to see a vote of confidence in the student body, and a note of wise advice. Thanks DTH for posting this letter.
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