The Map Hill Elevator Saga 1

Good Evening,

As I’m sure you’re all aware by now, our elevator was vandalized the evening of the snow ball. While we already experienced one delay earlier this semester in terms of the elevator not working properly due to a vendor issue, this particular incident was due to the negligence and complete lack of respect by a student(s) for our home; not just the elevator but the 3rd floor hallway as well. Although not all the lights inside the elevator may be functioning as needed, the elevator is once again completely safe for operation and I certainly appreciate everyone’s patience during this event.

That said, I would like to share the following actual text from the Babson College Public Safety report regarding the condition of the elevator:

“On Saturday, February 10, 2007, at approximately 4:20pm, I was dispatched to 81 Map Hill Drive to meet with a technician from Know Elevator who was on campus. The technician wished to document the vandalism he had found inside the elevator once he had completed his work in the mechanical room and was able to open the elevator doors. When I arrived, there was an odor of stale beer/alcohol inside the elevator. Inside the elevator were some empty beer bottles and cans. The “2” push button had been pulled completely off the panel and was missing. There was an exposed wire from where the button should have been and the elevator itself was dark. The technician explained that behind the panel was a circuit board beneath where all the buttons are located. He explained that someone poured a liquid substance (later determined to be beer) into where the "2" button would have been located and damaged the circuit board."

This morning I was able to talk with the technician and he further explained once the "2" button was removed, the person(s) then pulled the connecting wires from inside the panel, causing the elevator to completely shut down. I have attached pictures in the e-mail so everyone is aware of the damage as well. While the pictures may look less severe in terms of the actual damage, the damage bill for the elevator repairs is expected to be approximately $6500. At this point, no further information has been presented and subsequently, all residents of Map Hill will share in this cost equally.

I completely agree with the general sentiment of most of you reading this that such a charge is unacceptable. Given that, I strongly urge all of you to talk with each other and find out specifically what happened that evening. The damage did occur past 9pm which means only the people who had access to Map Hill were Map Hill residents, their guests and/or residents who may have held the entrance doors open for non-residents. I am hoping that by talking with each other in the hall, more information can be discovered. If you have any further information, please feel free to contact your RAs, Public Safety or myself. If you are concerned about confidentiality, please feel free to slip a note under my office door in Map Hill or use the Public Safety “Confidential Caller” line which is completely anonymous and not traced at all at (781) 237 - 8164.

• The actual elevator pieces that were ripped out from the elevator causing all the damage to the circuit board located inside the elevator panel
• The elevator panel without the “2” knob and the pulled wires from the picture above
• The 3rd floor hallway that evening with broken ceiling tiles and 2 damaged exit signs

I look forward to talking with you all at our upcoming hall meeting about not just the elevator, but what steps we can take as a community to limit such occurences and ensure our mutual enjoyment of this beautiful hall for the remainder of the semester and for future residents as well.

Sincerely,

Slug