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Rowan joins colleges banning ‘hoverboards’

A day after Rutgers bans “hoverboards,” Rowan University has done the same, citing fire and injury risk.

    by Jonathan Lai
    Published 

Rowan University has joined an ever-growing group of colleges that has banned "hoverboards" on campus over concerns about fires and injury.

"Recent reports of fires and accidents causing injuries have raised important safety concerns," reads a university message sent Friday.

Rutgers University announced Thursday that it had instituted a temporary ban on the self-balancing scooters, which have been criticized for several incidents where they caught fire.

No incidents have been reported at Rowan or Rutgers, but both universities cited the ongoing investigation by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The devices cannot be used on Rowan's campus or in any housing facilities. Any "hoverboards" found may be confiscated, Rowan warned.

The university's message is below:

Recent reports of fires and accidents causing injuries have raised important safety concerns about Hover Boards. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal agency with jurisdiction over product safety, is currently investigating these incidents and their cause(s). More information about the CPSC investigation can be found online at:
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/About-CPSC/Chairman/Kaye-Biography/Chairman-Kayes-Statements/Statements/Statement-from-the-US-CPSC-Chairman-Elliot-F-Kaye-on-the-safety-of-hoverboards/
In the interest of safety on campus, the university is prohibiting the possession and use of hoverboards on campus, including in all campus housing facilities. Individuals who may have purchased or received a hoverboard as a gift are advised NOT to bring them to campus. Hoverboards found in campus housing facilities will be addressed as a violation of the prohibited items policy and may result in confiscation as well as disciplinary action.