SIU Carbondale students asked to leave Hoverboards at home

January 13, 2016

SIU Carbondale students asked to leave Hoverboards at home

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is banning Hoverboards from campus due to fire safety concerns, according to Kevin Bame, vice chancellor for administration and finance. 

“Like a number of campuses across the country, we are banning Hoverboards for the immediate future,” Bame said. “We ask students returning to campus for the spring semester to leave them at home.” 

A number of media reports indicate that Hoverboards, a type of motorized skateboard or scooter, are associated with fires that occurred during charging or spontaneously during use. 

SIU’s spring semester begins on Tuesday, Jan. 19.