The Collegian

Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News

Media Credit: William Clayton Freshman Davidson Russell grows a 7-foot-tall Fichus tree in his Simpson Residence room.

A water-filled turtle tank in McIntyre Hall nearly caught on fire a month ago when the tank's heater ignited the turtle, named Salvador Dali, in flames.

The female freshman who owned the turtle said she feared for a moment that the fire would spread to the rest of her room.

"After the initial shock of a water-filled fish bowl catching on fire, I jumped up and tried to bat it out," she said. "I would have expected him to choke on his shrimp rather than bursting into flames like this."

Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the college forbids students to keep pets in their rooms, to avoid safety and health hazards.

"With pets in the dorms it is about health and safety for students first and foremost," he said. "When I think of pets, I am thinking of anything outside the plant kingdom."

A handful of students still keep pets in the dorms, though, whether by flouting the policy or finding unorthodox pets that allow them to obey it.

"I am pretty sure I could have kept him from the administration had he not boiled to death, as my room has the perfect setup," the freshman said. "Through this I have learned to be more precarious about pet ownership."

On the other end of the spectrum, freshman Davidson Russell keeps a 7-foot-tall Fichus tree named Melvin in his room in Simpson Residence. His brother Sam Russell '08 gave it to him as a present.

"I love plants and jungles so it fits into that atmosphere," Davidson Russell said. "Melvin gives my room a homey feel."

The same holds true for freshman Nora Wood's algae ball, Touché. It currently floats in a decorative jar, inspiring confused reactions with its periodic bubbling. Much like Russell, Wood said Touché is a necessary part of her college life.

"I do not really understand Touché, he is somewhat beyond me," she said. "All I know is that he is low-maintenance, pleasant to be around and nearly impossible to kill. I love everything about him."

Petersen said he has no problem with pets like those, as they never present health or safety hazards. It's rare that students violate the policy, he said.

"Dormitory pets are largely a non-issue as everyone is so cooperative," he said. "With pets in the dorms unique situations come up and we learn as we go."

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