Balcony Collapses at Virginia Commonwealth University

deleteme

deleteme

I attended VCU for 5 years, 4 of those years I lived in a W Grace apartment w/ a decrepit balcony. I remember my roommate and I wanted to use it for entertaining or even leisure but we never risked it. Every year we requested it to be fixed and inspected but it never happened, even after the property was handed over to another management company. Considering the age and condition of many of the buildings in that area and how the land lords run their properties, this does not surprise me in the least bit.

Property Didn't Belong to VCU

My sympathies to the students that were injured - exceptionally fortunate that the injuries were not more serious - hopes for a speedy recover to the injured people.

That said - the article is misleading in that it gives the impression it happened in a university-owned apartment - c'mon USN&WR folks - get your facts together and print them explicitly - in fact it was an off-campus apartment near (not on nor owned by) the university - the balcony that collapsed was added to the old (early 1900's) house 1 or 2 owners ago without a permit or an inspection and rented to students attending the university when it collapsed.

Balcony Collapse

While the students were not thinking maturely, this should not have happened. College kids get together and party. It does not have to be a drinking fest. When I was in med school getting together at a favorite campus site or with friends was a safety valve to alleviate stress and in some instances ease the pain of the loss of a patient.

Any lessor should anticipate this type of event/ activity if they choose to rent to students. Many are away from home for the first time. Education is not just "book learning" - it's a day to day learning. Mistakes will be made and this balcony collapse was a "biggie".

I sincerely hope that the medical expenses of these students will be covered.