2008 Woodie Awards
Students drive on SBU sidewalks illegally
Jesica Jacobs
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Forum
- Page 1 of 1
For ages, man has relied on the use of sidewalks in order to avoid getting hit by cars. This, I believe, was the basic purpose of inventing the sidewalk to begin with. But, apparently, here at Southwest Baptist University, we haven't quite gotten the point yet.
It is not uncommon to see cars driving along the sidewalks in-between the parking lot behind the Gott Educational Center and the Goodson Student Union parking lot. But, as you would also suspect, there are usually people trying to walk on these sidewalks, which has led to students getting hit by cars.
"I've noticed it more this year," said SBU Safety and Security Officer Quint Schoeneberg. "People have been hit; we don't need people to be hit."
The Safety and Security officers such as Schoeneberg are not taking this lightly. They are prepared to act if they see a student driving on any sidewalks. They may not get a ticket, but they are definitely going to hear about it, if caught.
"It's situational," said Schoeneberg. "If [students] stop, I usually give them a warning. I try to work with students because I don't like giving fines."
The fine for driving on a sidewalk on campus is $25.
"A parking spot's not that important," said Schoeneberg. "Everybody is a capable driver, but nobody can foresee the unpredictably. It's better to err on the side of caution."
It takes all of five minutes to drive around to the actual road, rather than driving in pedestrian areas. Give the Safety and Security officers a break; they do enough thankless work as it is.
If students do happen to get a ticket for driving on a sidewalk, and they feel it is unwarranted, there is a five day window students can use to try to appeal.
It is not uncommon to see cars driving along the sidewalks in-between the parking lot behind the Gott Educational Center and the Goodson Student Union parking lot. But, as you would also suspect, there are usually people trying to walk on these sidewalks, which has led to students getting hit by cars.
"I've noticed it more this year," said SBU Safety and Security Officer Quint Schoeneberg. "People have been hit; we don't need people to be hit."
The Safety and Security officers such as Schoeneberg are not taking this lightly. They are prepared to act if they see a student driving on any sidewalks. They may not get a ticket, but they are definitely going to hear about it, if caught.
"It's situational," said Schoeneberg. "If [students] stop, I usually give them a warning. I try to work with students because I don't like giving fines."
The fine for driving on a sidewalk on campus is $25.
"A parking spot's not that important," said Schoeneberg. "Everybody is a capable driver, but nobody can foresee the unpredictably. It's better to err on the side of caution."
It takes all of five minutes to drive around to the actual road, rather than driving in pedestrian areas. Give the Safety and Security officers a break; they do enough thankless work as it is.
If students do happen to get a ticket for driving on a sidewalk, and they feel it is unwarranted, there is a five day window students can use to try to appeal.
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