Shippensburg University officials said that hoverboards are banned on campus because of safety reasons, according to a news release published on Jan. 14 on ship.edu.
Hoverboards, a self-balancing, two-wheeled board, present a host of safety risks. From operator error to catching on fire, SU officials believe there are enough reasons to ban the devices from campus.
“A fire in a campus building, especially in a residence hall, caused by a hoverboard is an unacceptable safety risk and, after careful consideration, the university has banned hoverboards effective immediately from campus,” the news release states.
Hoverboards became a cultural icon in 2015, following a surge of Internet videos that showcased the device’s ability to bring attention to its users. Social media websites like Twitter and Facebook contained numerous videos of users injuring themselves and the devices catching fire.
“While the devices pose risk of injuries to novice riders, the more serious problem that has been reported is the number of hoverboards that have caught fire and in at least one case destroyed a home,” the news release states.
SU officials said they will review the necessity of the ban as new information becomes available, but until that time they are banned.
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