The hoverboard, as seen in the classic movie, Back to the Future II, is the prime example of the hoverboard this world would dream of owning. Who wouldn’t want one of those works of art? A new type of “hoverboard” has been introduced and people have been swiping them off the shelves. They seem to be the new trend to replace the skateboards or long boards that most college kids are seen riding around campus. To the keen eye, these toys seem like an exciting and new transportation system, taking a great deal of balance. To individuals like myself, the expectation of "balance" was enough to avoid hoverboards right away!

I wasn’t aware that these hover boards even had the capacity to be potentially dangerous. Nobody did. Sure, if you fall off of one, your tailbone would be damaged, but that could happen to people who simply slip down the stairs. I was first introduced to the danger of hoverboards when I was questioned about my belongings at the airport. I was taken back on the question of, “Do you have a hoverboard in any of your bags? At first, this question confused me - why would they care about something like a popular toy? It wasn't classified as the usual "hazardous materials," such as liquids, weapons, or flammable products. The reason for the hoverboard ban on most major airlines? Spontaneous combustion. Oh you heard me right, this “harmless” transportation vehicle has a serious problem catching on fire. Just a minor issue and bug, right? Wrong. These hover boards have made a name for themselves by not only getting banned by major airlines, but also by college campuses where a large population of students ride the contraptions to and from classes.

Grand Canyon University is included in this list of colleges banning hoverboards. The toy was banned for safety concerns. I would be concerned as well if a motorized vehicle, in my room or under my feet, decided to randomly catch on fire. Grand Canyon University has made the statement that the students have until Spring break to relocate their hover boards. However, now that you cannot fly them home, so you mostly likely will be forced to either pay for a large shipping fee, or buckle up for a long road trip home.

More than 30 college campuses have jumped on board with the hover board ban, and the numbers continue to rise as people become more aware of the potential safety hazards involved.