Art students might lose their studio space in Altgeld Hall after an inspection revealed electrical problems and other deficiencies constituting possible fire hazards.

Electrical cords, defective wiring and flammable art supplies in Altgeld increase risk of a fire, according to an inspection by NIU’s department of campus safety and the DeKalb Fire Department.

Acting on an anonymous complaint, both Robert Vest, NIU safety officer, and Al Berg, assistant fire chief for fire prevention at the city of DeKalb, inspected the artists’ studios at Altgeld in December.

The officers concluded that conditions they found in the building violated the National Fire Prevention Association’s Life Safety Code and constituted a fire hazard.

Berg cited several fire safety violations including defective electrical wiring and cords as well as incorrect storage of flammable art materials, such as paint supplies and fixatives.

He also found rags, wooden boards and paper which can be easily ignited.

Altgeld, which houses the administrative offices and records, has no sprinkler system and few fire extinguishers or exits, Berg said.

“We did have some concern and had an inspector at the site who provided us with several recommendations that we are going to act on,” said Assistant Provost Anthony Fusaro.

Robert Even, chairperson of the art department, called the incident “routine” and said NIU officials and the art students are correcting the problems.

Some of the electrical wiring has been replaced, and art students have been individually notified to keep the area clean, Even said.

Graduate art students occupy 16 studios in Altgeld, Even said. Art students have occupied the studios at Altgeld since 1975, he said.

Most of the students using the building work with painting materials.

Art student Letitia Waller, who has a studio in Altgeld, said she does not recall being informed of rules about the use of the building until receiving a letter about the situation during Christmas break.

Since then, she has spoken to Even, and she was told to take greater care in cleaning her painting materials.

Her primary concern is whether art students will be removed from Altgeld.

Fusaro said this semester might be the last one for the art students to use the studios. However, he did not know where NIU will relocate the students or what use the university will make of the space.

“Plans for renovating and using the space for a different type of office are being discussed,” said Fusaro, who is in charge of allocating building space.

Fusaro cited other problems with the artists’ studios including graffiti on the walls, cluttered art materials and students’ use of refrigerators, hot pots and stereo equipment.

“One room looked like a student was actually living there,” Berg said.