The Mount Vernon Fire Marshal ordered the removal of the Caples Hall stove over spring break due to reports of continued misuse. According to the Office of Residential Life (ResLife), it is unlikely that the stove will return this academic year. 

Caples Hall houses up to 148 students in mixed dormitory and suite-style housing, with first floor kitchen amenities serving all nine floors of the building. This year, ResLife received multiple complaints about kitchen-related safety issues from Caples residents, custodians and the Office of Campus Safety, with the primary concern being unsupervised burners left on. Throughout the semester, Caples residents received multiple emails from ResLife discussing safety concerns regarding stove usage.

“There have been repeated incidents of the stoves/ovens being used irresponsibly and/or improperly leading to fire alarms and to extreme fire danger,” Director of Campus Safety Michael Sweazey wrote in an email to the Collegian. “There have been multiple incidents of items left on the stovetops unattended that have burned [and] of the burners and ovens left on after use. … Additionally, the stoves have been used for burning paper materials, which is an extreme danger.”

“[Stove misuse] included grease and oil build-up directly on stove heating elements despite frequent deep cleaning from custodial staff, flammable materials such as plastic and paper being left near or directly on heating elements, and stoves and ovens being unattended and left on overnight,” Director of ResLife Leah Reuber wrote in an email to the Collegian. “The continued issues and review of the condition of the kitchen after recent student use was deemed a fire hazard upon inspection from the Fire Marshal.” 

On March 5, the stove was removed by ResLife, the Maintenance department, Campus Safety and the Mount Vernon Fire Marshal. According to Reuber, the stove’s removal was not prompted by a specific fire, but rather continued concerns regarding student safety. Reuber clarified to the Collegian that, while there were no issues with the condition of the stove itself, it is unlikely that it will be reinstalled before graduation. 

Caples residents expressed frustration over the loss of the stove. “It’s sad that people who relied on the stove can’t use it, and I wish others had been more responsible with the kitchen,” Hannah Ehrlich ’26 wrote in a message to the Collegian. 

“I feel angry, but not at Maintenance; I’m frustrated that grown adults couldn’t stop causing minor kitchen fires,” Caples resident Dylan Gibson ’27 wrote in a message to the Collegian. “I put out a fire caused by a pot that someone left on the stove alone for 30 minutes just before break. It’s inconsiderate and infuriating that so many people lack regard for other residents’ safety.”

The removal of the stove made eating difficult for some Caples residents who stayed on campus over the break. “There is already a scarcity of kitchens for students who are here over break to use. … Students would have to improvise and end up eating microwaved food for two weeks in a row,” Yehor Shyrokyi ’27 wrote in a message to the Collegian. Shyrokyi also stated that the Caples kitchen was open to other break-stay students whose residences didn’t have kitchens, which likely contributed to the mess. “[Removing the stove is] not solving the issue — people who walked to Caples will keep walking to different kitchens, making them even dirtier and some other custodians’ problems,” Shyrokyi wrote. 

Though they cite student misuse for the removal of the stove, both Reuber and Sweazey stated that they believe the majority of Caples residents have not contributed to the safety violations. “I like to think the students who are using the kitchens in a dangerous manner are in the minority. … However, dangerous actions taken by a small number of students sometimes result in inconvenience to the majority,” Sweazey wrote.

“Our office recognizes that these issues likely do not stem from the majority of students who use the communal kitchen thoughtfully and respectfully, which is why we send ample warning to the community in hopes that the issues can be curbed through peer accountability,” Reuber wrote. “However, we must take fire safety seriously and cannot risk the continued misuse resulting in a much more serious situation.”