Out-of-date elevator permits in buildings throughout campus are making some students feel unsafe and may actually end up costing the University money.

According to Erika Monterroza, spokesperson for the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, SF State may face penalties of up to $1,000 per elevator if an unannounced inspection finds that the posted permits are in fact expired.

As of Oct. 12, every multi-level building on campus, including the dormitories, has elevators displaying operation permits that have expired, most in June of 2008.

Given the number of elevators on campus, this could result in more than $20,000 in fines for the University if all permits are allowed to remain outdated.

"That's negligent of our safety," 18-year-old pre-nursing student Erika Teora said. "I'm not generally afraid of elevators, but that kind of makes me pissed. I'm paying this much money to go to school here and they can't even keep the permits updated."

Mike Curran, customer service supervisor for Facilities and Service Enterprises at SF State said campus elevators all undergo inspection and are licensed at once, and the licenses to operate these elevators are kept on file. The copies of these permits however, which are intended for display inside the elevators themselves, have not been replaced in over a year.

Cal/OSHA regulations concerning elevators states, "The permit, or a copy thereof, to operate a passenger elevator ... shall be posted conspicuously and securely in the elevator car."

According to Monterroza, SF State was issued permits meant for display many months ago that were valid through June of 2009, however they were never posted in the elevators and they too have now expired.

"So what's the point of getting the permit if they aren't going to post them?" Broadcast major Fernando Pacheco, 21, said. "There's no proof saying that they're updated. I want proof that it's safe."

Curran said students should not be concerned, and that the elevators are inspected every month. When asked how he felt about the possibility of incurring fines, Curran said that current permits are posted "when available."

The Division of Industrial Relations, the organization responsible for ensuring the safety of passenger elevators, has the ability to shut the elevators down, but usually won't and would prefer not to over such a technicality.

"We try to work with the building manager, but these are safety orders, and they're there for a reason," Monterroza said.

According to Monterroza, records at the DIR show that SF State's elevators are in fact safe and validly licensed. However, Monterroza said that regardless of the actual status of the elevators, displaying expired permits is a clear and reprehensible violation.

"I think it's safe to say we will be contacting the operator of those elevators," Monterroza said.

"That makes me feel pretty uneasy," pre-nursing major Gisselle Molina said.

17-year-old freshman Molina explained that some of the elevators on campus feel old or unsafe at times, and seeing expired permits posted inside them is in no way reassuring.

"I feel uncomfortable riding it, like out of nowhere it could stop," Molina said.