The safety of its students is one of the main concerns of a college campus.
In an email sent to students by Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Lysionek, it was explained that new speed bumps were going to be placed in response to concerns with pedestrian and driver safety, due to the fact that many cars frequently travel at speeds well beyond the posted speed limit of 15 m.p.h.
From Oct. 30 through 31, a paving contractor came to campus to install additional speed bumps on several of the roadways in which cars come in contact with pedestrians.
Although these were placed with the safety of students in mind, some students see the extra speed bumps as more of a nuisance.
“I cross over seven speed bumps on my way to campus,” junior commuter Justin Juliano said. “The only thing I worry is the effect that they’ll have on my car going over them nearly 56 times a week.”
Sophomore Jennifer Robinson did not have a positive experience with the speed bumps. As she was driving over one of the bumps, the muffler of her car fell off, causing unnecessary stress and money coming out of her pocket.
“I had to have a tow truck come and pick up my car because the speed bumps ripped off my muffler,” Robinson said. “Adding more speed bumps wasn’t a good idea when there were already enough as it was.”
“It’s not fair to students who have older cars that can’t handle all of the speed bumps day in and day out,” sophomore Amber Dietrich said. “The old speed bumps were already tough on my car as it was; with these new speed bumps being bigger in size and too close together, I worry for my muffler.”
The speed bumps being created caused a different traffic flow throughout campus during the two-day installation period. Students needed to use caution while these were being put into place.
On Oct. 30, Upper Gulph Road to the Dixon Center was closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Oct. 31, the King of Prussia Road entrance to Xavier Hall was closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sophomore commuter Allie Monyak was not happy with these traffic patterns during the two days of installation and was unaware that they were going to be taking place. “I was mad because the entrance to school was blocked off, and I was almost late to class,” Monyak said.
Once the roadways were re-opened, the asphalt bumps were painted bright yellow and orange cones were placed by these new additions to campus. There are now three speed bumps along the King of Prussia Road entrance to campus, as well as a few additions to the back of Founder’s Hall.
Were the speed bumps placed in the correct spots? “Personally, I don’t think they were added in the right spots on campus,” Juliano said. “They should be located near the mansion and on the road that connects Iadorola and Founders.”
Whether students believe that they are necessary or not, it all comes down to the fact that the college only added more speed bumps with the sake of the well-being of students in mind.
@jnawoyski
