The Office of Housing sent an email to students Jan. 8 announcing a ban on electronic skateboards, popularly known as “hoverboards,” on campus.
“Under the guidance of Campus Safety, the Office of Housing has made the decision to prohibit the use, possession or storage of electronic skateboards including self-balancing boards/scooters and other similar equipment in all undergraduate residence halls and graduate residential communities until safety standards for them have been adequately developed and implemented across all models,” the email stated.
The email cited safety concerns, saying that electronic skateboards “present potential fire hazards, particularly but not limited to, the devices’ batteries lighting on fire while charging.
“The Consumer Product Safety Commission is actively investigating and testing to address the safety of these devices. Representatives of Student Affairs and Campus Safety will continue to monitor the status of these devices and housing policies will be modified accordingly,” the email stated.
A Jan. 9 article by USA Today listed more than 20 colleges and universities that have banned use of electronic skateboards, including the Catholic University of America, University of Connecticut and Georgia State University.
