University officials are trying to figure out how to outfit every bed on campus with a safety rail.
They’re working in response to increased requests from students that began before school started and increased after a woman fell from a lofted bed and died.
“The ultimate goal is that every bed will come with bed rails, like they come with the stabilizing bars,” said Larry Hicks, director of the department of housing and residential education.
Right now, the housing department is buying more rails and borrowing some from other universities to meet student demand. Eventually they hope to outfit all 8,500 beds on campus.
Last week 200 bed rails were delivered and 40 more were borrowed from N.C. State University. An order for an additional 800 bed rails is currently being processed.
A transfer student’s mother died the weekend before classes began after falling from her daughter’s lofted bed in Kenan Residence Hall.
Since the accident was reported, more students are voicing concerns about the safety of lofted beds.
“I was scared at the beginning of the year. I used a pillow by the wall and just made sure I always had it there,” said sophomore Erin McGrath, who lofted her bed last year but chose to lower it this year.
The housing department sent an e-mail to all on-campus residents last week to inform them 200 bed rails were available upon request.