Uplift

The Easterfield lifts, rated to carry 3000 pounds, are often crammed full of students whose combined weight greatly exceeds the permissible maximum. The result is often a lift sunk about six feet below floor level. After study week, however, this situation will be no more.

A cunning device is being fitted to each lift to prevent operation while overloaded. When the load on the cables reaches 3000 pounds, a switch is tripped and the lift won't operate. The only way to get it to go again is for enough people to get out to bring the load down to 3000 pounds.