An email went out to all Bakersfield College staff from Executive Director of Administrative Services LaMont D. Shiers to reinforce the no skateboarding policy on campus.? Professors are to tell students with skateboardsthat they are allowed to bring them, but they are prohibited from riding them on campus.
According to Shiers, the sidewalk surrounding the campus as well as parking lots count as school property and should not be skated on. He explained that they’re trying to keep students on campus safe.
This reminder was sent out on Sept. 8, a week after a deaf student was injured on campus due to a collision with a person riding a skateboard.?
“This injury could have been avoided had the skateboarder adhered to the signage posted around campus stating that skateboarding is not permitted,” Shiers said.
He also explained that there are nine signs posted at the main entrances of campus. They state that skateboarding and bicycles are not allowed on school grounds. Shiers also said that they are currently looking into placing more signs around campus.
Anthony Feldt, a freshman at BC, rides his skateboard to and from his classes.? When asked about the signs, he said, “There might be some, I just haven’t looked for them, I guess.”?
Feldt feels that skateboarding is not only a fun way to get to each class, it?is also a lot faster than simply?walking across campus.?
“I have to park kind of far away from my class, so it helps me get there faster,” said Feldt.
Although no?one has?reminded Feldt about the no skating policy he said if a staff member or student approached him about it, he would comply.?
“It’s just common courtesy.? It’s not a big deal to not skate.”? He added that if he needed to get to class in a hurry, he would run.
Feldt explained that skaters should be aware of their surroundings and are usually trying to avoid a collision themselves.? Even though Feldt feels that this rule can be enforced, he doesn’t think it should.
Students around campus have mixed feelings about skateboarders. Some students don’t have a problem with people skating in the hallway, while others feel it is very unnecessary and school is not the place for skating.
Dylan Johnson said, “They should be more cautious. They go pretty fast down the hallways.”
anonymous • Mar 31, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Well this is how I feel about skateboarding/longboarding. Bakersfield College should not bann skateboarding on campus, including biking. The reason why is because there “are” responsible ones out there. Because of someone that was being careless does not mean that all skateboarders/bikers should be taken as dangerous people.
It could have been the wreckless skaters fault or it could have been both the students fault for not paying attention where they were going. I understand that Bakersfield College wants all students to have a safe environment but they shouldn’t take these helpful transportations away. Regardless how big or small of a College/University campus is. There should be a line where both students and the school can work something out “together.” If they want these students to be safe then they should enforce a minimal protective gear or even enforcing to not take the downhill from the Getbus bus stop. (Some sort of boundary).
Skateboarding/longboarding and even biking are means of students’ transportation. It’s not always just for fun. There is a way that the school and these students can work with to allow these transporations to be on campus.
I know of other schools like University of Southern California allow.
Here is the link to the website or just Google “usc skateboarding policy” like I did.
http://scampus.usc.edu/coasting-devices/