ROGERS PARK — Loyola University officials banned hoverboard (and similar) devices on campus last week after reports of the devices spontaneoulsy combusting.
Jane Neufeld, vice president of student development, posted a statement on the school's website that said in part, "Due to the recent fire concerns surrounding 'hoverboards', Loyola University Chicago has chosen to prohibit the use, storage, and possession of hoverboards, and similar devices typically powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries, on campus. This includes all campus grounds and facilities at Water Tower, Lake Shore, Maywood, Cuneo, LUREC, and the Rome Center (JFRC)."
If students have them on campus, they're asked to return them home.
The ban includes parameters such as “the use, storage, and possession of hoverboards, and similar devices typically powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries, on campus.”
Neufeld said until hoverboard safety could be "better assured," they would be prohibited at the school.
Indeed, federal officials are speaking out on the boards, saying there is an "active investigation" into their manufacturing.
In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it is " actively investigating a number of companies that make or sell hoverboards," and lauded Amazon.com's decision to offer full refunds for at least one brand selling on the online retailer's site. The department encouraged other companies to follow suit.
The lithium-ion battery packs used to power the devices, and their interaction with internal circuit boards, have been the main focus of the origin of the fires, according to the CPSC.
The department also said they don't believe hoverboards take into account the weight of the user, making falls and injury more likely — some of which have already resulted in "increasing number of serious injuries and emergency room visits."
Loyola joins a number of other campuses to ban on the devices, along with Metra, which recently announced hoverboards would no longer be allowed on their trains.
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