While city and campus officials have long worried about the run-down balconies found on many campus-area houses, University of Wisconsin students got a terrible reminder last week of just how dangerous these favorite party hangouts can be.

While attending a party on Mifflin Street Aug. 28, incoming UW freshman Jason Gratzl fell from a second-story balcony onto a concrete area below. Gratzl, who had apparently been drinking, was leaning over the railing of the balcony to vomit when he lost his balance. He is still listed in critical condition at UW Hospital.

Although balcony accidents such as this have been rare on the UW campus, it is surprising there haven’t been more. Intoxicated party-goers frequently crowd onto balconies, often times far exceeding the maximum number of people these structures can safely hold. While landlords and property owners are responsible for making sure balconies are up to code and safe for tenants to use, it is also up to students to demonstrate common sense when using them.

Party hosts and hostesses should be aware of how many people their balcony can safely hold (tenants can contact their landlord if they are unsure), and then they need to make sure that the number of guests on the balcony does not exceed that. Hosts and hostesses should also make sure that guests who seem excessively belligerent don’t wander out onto the balcony alone (or better yet, wander out onto the balcony at all). Guests, for their part, should pay attention to the number of other people on the balcony and leave if it seems too crowded to be safe. In addition, no one should ever lean over a balcony railing for any reason, especially if alcohol is involved.

Tenants who feel their balconies or railings are not up to code (a recently adopted city code requires all new and upgraded porch railings be at least 42 inches high and in good condition) should contact the Tenant Resource Center and request that someone come and inspect the safety of their balcony. Combining a few extra precautions now along with common sense during parties can hopefully prevent another balcony tragedy.