Shippensburg University President Charles Patterson announced in a campus-wide email Monday afternoon that effective immediately, the university has decided to “ban electric recreational vehicles from being parked, stored or charged inside all buildings and facilities on campus.”
Furthermore, “electronic recreational vehicles” of any kind will be banned from campus effective March 18, the first day of classes after spring break. Individuals may not “store, travel on or carry” an e-scooter and anyone found in violation of the policy after the 18th will have their device confiscated by Shippensburg University Police until the end of the semester, Patterson’s email said.
The decision comes in light of the evacuation of Seavers Hall Friday night that was caused by an electric scooter that caught fire in a student’s room.
“There has been ongoing consultation about the use and safety of e-scooters over the last year,” said Megan Silverstrim, SU director of communications and marketing. “We were likely headed down the path of limiting use, and the Seavers event quickened the decision-making around this issue.”
As noted in a CBS report, at least 19 people were killed and 20 were injured across dozens of states due to electric scooter-related fires in 2022.
Major universities like Yale and Georgetown have also taken action and banned e-scooters in recent months.
“This decision will lead to a safer campus environment for everyone at Ship,” Patterson said. “Thank you for doing your part to keep our campus community safe by complying with this ban.”
"A final policy will still need to be drafted that addresses the ban. Any nuances or exceptions to policy will be borne out of this process," Silverstrim said.
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