The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) recently placed stickers in elevators around campus listing actions to take if the elevator should stop operating.

Maurine Claver, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said the stickers are intended to urge people to remain safely in elevators, especially because of the December death of Penn State student Katherine Ibanez.

Ibanez died while attempting to crawl out of an Atherton Hall elevator after it had stopped between the third and fourth floors.

Claver said that although there have been ongoing programs to encourage elevator safety, such as training resident assistants and employees, posting the stickers is one way in which OPP is "further enhancing" their efforts.

The bright yellow stickers, located directly above the elevator buttons, list five emergency steps occupants should follow in an emergency.

Paul Ruskin, OPP spokesman, said it is very important that students carefully read and follow the posted instructions.

The steps are to push the alarm button, communicate with people outside, remain inside of the elevator, wait for the elevator technician and dial the number for campus police if a cell phone is available.

Ruskin said it is particularly important that the new postings take into account that many people now have cell phones.

"This gives us a new way to call for help," he said.

Claver said the step to dial campus police was included because sometimes cell phones work in elevators. However, she stressed that it is more important for those stuck in an elevator to make contact with people outside.

Marianne Lorensen, Atherton Hall residence life coordinator, said she sees the new stickers as a positive way to promote elevator safety.

"I do hope that the stickers will be a resource for students if they are stuck in an elevator," she said. "They are a reminder should the elevator stop."

However, the stickers do not indicate whether to use a telephone located inside the elevator because not all elevators on campus contain telephones, Lorensen said.

"Some elevators have phones, but we're working on doing others," Claver said.

Amberle Biedermann (sophomore-business) said that although she does not often ride on campus elevators, she believes the stickers are positive.

"I don't think it can hurt," she said. "It may make people more aware."

Susan Christner (junior-nutrition) agreed that following the list of steps would be beneficial in an emergency situation, especially because cell phones often do not work in elevators.

Chris Nelson (junior-history), an Atherton Hall resident, said he believes the stickers can prevent future accidents from occurring.

He said that although people inside an elevator may not notice the sticker at first, they would likely see it and follow the steps if the elevator broke down.

However, Makeda Lee (senior-human development and family studies) was skeptical of the idea. She said she is afraid of riding elevators because she has seen people taking reckless actions, such as jumping up and down, while inside.

"I don't think a sticker will make much of a difference," she said.