Hello STEM Scholars,
Unfortunately, I need to address a serious incident that occurred in our STEM Scholars Lounge this afternoon.
A student placed a cup of macaroni and cheese in the microwave, set the timer for one hour, and left the appliance unattended. Another student noticed smoke filling the lounge and intervened before the situation escalated further. The incident left the microwave unusable and caused smoke and a strong burning odor to spread throughout the first floor of Telfer-Wilker.
While we can certainly appreciate the irony of a STEM student turning a cup of mac and cheese into a science experiment, the potential consequences of this incident are no laughing matter.
Leaving food unattended in a microwave for an extended period creates a serious fire hazard. This incident endangered not only the students using our lounge but also the faculty, staff, and others working throughout the building. We are fortunate that another student noticed the smoke and acted before the situation became more serious.
As a direct result of this incident, the microwave will be removed from the STEM Scholars Lounge and will not be replaced.
I recognize that many of you use the lounge responsibly and have appreciated having access to a microwave between classes. Unfortunately, this level of disregard for shared equipment and the safety of our campus community has consequences that affect everyone.
Our STEM Scholars Lounge is a privilege and a space intended to support your academic success, collaboration, and sense of community. Maintaining that space requires everyone to demonstrate responsibility, respect for shared resources, and consideration for the people around them.
I am particularly disappointed that an incident like this occurred in a space dedicated to students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, where attention to detail, sound judgment, and safety are fundamental expectations.
To the student who noticed the smoke and intervened: thank you. Your attentiveness helped prevent what could have been a much more serious situation.
I hope everyone will take this as a reminder that our actions have consequences beyond ourselves. Please continue to treat the lounge, its resources, and the people who share our building with the care and respect they deserve.
Thank you,
Ashlea Bruno
Director, Choose Ohio First / STEM Scholars Program
Baldwin Wallace University
abruno@bw.edu
| 
