Southeastern Louisiana University joined many colleges and universities around the country in restricting
hoverboards on campus, as federal officials review dozens of fires tied to the self-balancing scooters.
AP Photo?Elaine Thomspon, File

Hoverboards have become a popular way of getting around the university. They have also become a common way to travel locally throughout the country. However, there has been a recent ban on the devices due to safety hazards that were discovered. Hoverboards were becoming known to burst into flames and have already caused severe problems within America. Reports from the device’s fire outbreaks have come from Florida, Alabama, New York, Washington and Louisiana. International airports were one of the first to ban the devices with college universities such as Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University to follow procedures and also initiate bans. While across the country many colleges are still taking action and continuing bans on hoverboards, Southeastern has banned all electronic coasting devices. 

“My goal is to keep our students safe,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, James McHodgkins. “It’s more for safety. The biggest thing about the hoverboards is that there are a lot of them and they catch fire and explode. We didn’t want that to happen in dormitories, classrooms and other buildings on campus where someone may be charging them and they catch on fire.”  

With campus banning all electronic coasting devices, the university has issued a new policy about coasting devices on campus. Students are still allowed to have transportation vehicles such as bicycles, skateboards, roller skates and any other coasting device as long as it is not electronic. 

The new policy does state, “Electronic skateboards, including self-balancing boards, scooters, hoverboards and other similar equipment are prohibited from being used, stored, and/or charged in any University building and/or community. This includes campus grounds and all residence halls, apartments and organization/Greek houses.”

Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University Jay Whitacre performed studies on the device that shows it is not the device itself that is dangerous, but the batteries inside. Lithium-ion batteries are what power the hoverboards and can over heat while being charged which causes the fire to ignite. Another cause of fire is if the battery is punctured while someone is riding it.

McHodgkins explained that the university banned all electronic coasting devices as a safety precaution.

“It’s more for protection for our students,” said McHodgkins. “In addition, there have been more reports of students who were injured riding those things. We’re looking at more of the safety of our students and others. Not just the users, but people who are in the same vicinity.”

While there have not been any incidents that were reported on campus, that doesn’t mean incidents have not occurred in the area.

“I think the ban is necessary because a lot of people have been getting hurt and falling,” said freshman health promotions major Christina Cutura. “One of my friends has gotten a concussion from falling off of a hoverboard. I just feel it’s easy to fall and there are so many people in the way it’s hard to control. I would say that they shouldn’t be allowed.”

The ban will continue to remain in place with universities focusing on the safety of students.

“Until something comes out that makes hoverboards safer or that the industry regulates them more, we’ve joined a lot of other universities and a lot of companies who have said for the safety of our students we are going to not allow them on campus,” said Mchodgkins.

For more information on the Coasting Device Policy please visit the Southeastern website.