Sprinklers Lacking in Some Mississippi Higher Education Housing

More than eight years after a fraternity house fire killed three University of Mississippi students, only one of the state’s public colleges and universities has both installed a sprinkler system in every dormitory and required all fraternities and sororities to do the same.

State College Board spokeswoman Caron Blanton tells The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that the board responded to the 2004 fire by requiring sprinkler systems in all public higher education residence halls.

Only Mississippi State University has met that requirement.

The board reports no sprinklers in at least one dorm each at Alcorn State, Delta State, Mississippi Valley State and Mississippi University for Women. There also are no sprinklers in two wings of one building at Jackson State; two student apartments at Southern Mississippi; and seven fraternity houses at Ole Miss.