Safe sidewalks
Dane Cook, Emporia
Monday, November 30, 2009
IS RUNNING ON the sidewalks of Emporia safe? ESU administration says yes and limited the hours the stadium can be used. This inconvenience forces students to run on the streets at night.
Running on the street concerns me. Once a red laser dot like the ones used on a gun to pinpoint a target appeared on a pole several inches from me. Another time someone ran up and blew a whistle in my ear, things thrown at me from passing vehicles and obscenities yelled at me.
Running on uneven sidewalks can cause serious leg injuries. Sometimes drivers either don’t see you or try to beat you through the intersection.
One ESU faculty member has already been killed running on our streets. Who will be next?
Women use the track out of fear of being attacked on the streets. Other students used it to take a break from their studies, unwind or train.
So why did administration limit the use of the stadium? Vandalism, something that can be controlled. Let’s face it. There is someone in the building at the track 24/7. Vandalism shouldn’t be a problem with a little extra effort. Have students in security office watch the track for violators and report violations to campus security. Lock all gates except one with the swinging bars, control the keys issued and post signs stating fines for misuse of track.
The president refused to see me. Maybe he was too busy raising money to pay for the new cement and signs in front of the building where his office is located. I wanted to ask him what is more important, safety or cement. I was raised in an era when life was priceless. Obviously, our lives are now worth the price of a cement driveway.
Dane Cook, Emporia