<p>Twenty-four people were in a dormitory elevator at Ohio State University Friday night when it started descending without closing its doors and killed a freshman who was pinned while trying to slip out, the Associated Press reported. The students in the elevator probably exceeded the weigh capacity for the elevator by more than 1,000 pounds, a fire official told the AP.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that the elevator ostensibly had a safety mechanism,which obviously malfunctioned, to avoid such incidents with an exceeded weight capacity. However, I believe those student should also be held accountable for such reckless stunt. Granted, OSU should take legal action against the company, but the students involved must be suspended for their drunken behavior.</p>
<p>Poor decision making...yes. But aren't you being a bit presumptuous to state that alcohol was involved? I do not recall any mention of such in any press release.</p>
<p>Yes... By drunken I meant reckless, not necessarily intoxicated with alcohol. they must have been utterly negligent to proceed with this conduct. I mean, it should be obvious that the elevator wasn't meant to hold such number of people by its size or any other indications(there usually is a noticeable sign as a caveat). My point is, they were engaged in some sort of irrational prank or stunt that lead to a freshman's death. It s just hard to imagine a group of lucid, grown students doing such idiotic thing.</p>
<p>God bless the youngman's family and hopefully the misfortune will reduce this type of activity on campus</p>
<p>Yeah, they may have been reckless, but come on - they had to watch their friend suffocate to death because of their behavior. I think that's punishment enough, without strangers making accusations on Internet message boards.</p>
<p>"Investigators said that the elevator passed every inspection in the last five years, but pointed out the elevator could have been over capacity by over 1,000 pounds when the 24 students were crammed inside the elevator.</p>
<p>Students said it's not normal for 24 people to cram into an elevator. Investigators said Polakowski was part of a group of students who were partying together.</p>
<p>School officials posted warnings next to each elevator on campus, warning students about the dangers of overcrowding the elevators and horseplay."</p>
<p>this was no doubt reckless and probably drunken behavior</p>
<p>This is an example of why I tell my daughter that it is not just drinking but goofy (stupid) behavior like this which can not just hurt, but kill you. Have fun, I tell her, but know when not to cross the line.</p>
<p>I have had the same conversation with my son on many occasions. When kids go off to school as freshamn, this is usually their 1st time out on their own. The mind has not quite figured out how to control those raging hormones, but they need to stop and think before acting. Any prank as benign as it may seem or just a really bad decision can ruin a life.</p>
<p>CITATION X, I didn't just fall off of the turnip truck yesterday and I was not there, but I would be willing to bet that all occupants of the elevator were not under the influence. People all over the world use poor judgment on a daily basis. It is unfortunate that in this case it cost a life.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to the family and friends of the student.</p>