The cause of the fire is still under investigation. After a series of false alarms had occurred at both SJSU's Moulder Hall and Boland Hall at Seton Hall University, apathy had grown extensively among the residents. In the Seton Hall fire, many of the students thought a drill was taking place and ignored the alarms. During a drill, the resident assistants check all areas throughout the hall to ensure all residents have evacuated. Any residents still in the building are written up, Richardson said.
Education is another important factor in reducing loss.
Education of the students is the No. 1 issue. One way to educate residents is at floor meetings. All of the residence halls at SJSU have meetings, said Balbina Perez, a senior health science major and a resident of Joe West Hall. Each of the resident's rooms also has a list of emergency procedures on the back of the room's door for students to follow. The aftermath of the Seton Hall fire set off an intense debate across the country as shocked students, administrators, parents, legislators and just concerned folks clamored for a re-evaluation of fire protections systems and procedures currently in place in the nation' s colleges and universities.