The highlight of my Sunday night was hearing a UD officer shout at the crowd that gathered around the corner of Kiefaber and Lawnview, "Everyone get inside. Do you like getting hit by flying debris?" An unnamed intelligent student responded, "We can't get in our basements, they are locked." The officer, knowing that he couldn't win the argument, simply walked away to yell at some more people to get inside.

The events of Sept. 14 bring the questions about our locked basements back into the forefront. What if the wind was stronger? We know that Slanty is going to fall over and half of our roofs and porches will fly off. Do we wait for the same guy that turned off our annoying fire alarms to unlock our basements? Should we flock to the frats and crowd in their unlocked basements? Maybe we should check out the nuclear bomb shelter in Founders.

We all know that fire safety and unsafe steps was not the real reason to lock the basements. It was to stop people from drinking in their basement. If UD was so concerned about the potential fires students could create, why not ban stoves and ovens. Open flames on a gas stove is dangerous! Deep fryers? No deep-fried Oreos for you, grease could splatter everywhere. George Foreman grills? Michael Scott showed us a grill can turn your foot into a waffle. Curling irons? Sorry you have to live off campus if you want to sport some curls. The list goes on.

This policy was not thought out and needs to be reversed. It hampers students in their ability to survive a tornado, reach their circuit breakers, check for potential problems and live a worry free life.

To illustrate my point best I'll draw from my own experience. The next day, as everyone was running around trying to find power and eating everything in their fridge, I ventured over to Brown Street to cook a meal at a house with power. But, as we all know what happens when more than two people are cooking, the fuse blew. Maintenance of course had the busy job of cleaning up the destruction of the prior night and did not have the time to come and unlock the basement and flip the fuse. A lucky house with power now lies with a kitchen without power. No Hot Pockets for them.

Please Dr. Dan and Sister Schmeling, think of the students and reverse this policy.