It’s not unusual to see a student traveling campus on a skateboard, but according to Missouri State’s policy, skateboarding is not allowed on campus.
According to Jay Huff, assistant director of Safety and Transportation, skateboards have been prohibited because students tend to break the rule of acrobatics on campus.
Student Government Association is currently in the process of creating a resolution to allow skateboards, longboards and inline skates as modes of transportation on campus.
Jordan McGee, director of administration and information services for SGA, wrote the resolution in response to students’ wants. He said there has been an increase of users on campus of self-propelled transportation devices.
“Several students around campus use this (self-propelled devices) mode of transportation responsibly, who have been stopped by campus security, and they all stressed the need to pass a resolution in support of revising the current policy,” McGee, a sophom*ore political communication major, said.
Riana Sears, a senior public relations major and SGA’s chief communications officer, said the current policy makes it difficult to have students reprimanded, considering the amount of students, who do skateboard, that are oblivious to the policy.
Dakota Jones, a sophom*ore cell and molecular biology major, is one of these students. When asked about the policy on skateboards, he was surprised they are banned.
“In my opinion, prohibiting anything from an adult is ridiculous,” Jones said. “As long as the school makes sure there is an ‘at your own risk’ sign to cover itself from lawsuits, then there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Currently, the resolution is in the preliminary stages and being discussed with the Office of Safety and Transportation.
The resolution will emphasize that skateboards, longboards and inline skates are used solely as means of transportation. If the resolution is approved, Sears said procedures, such as consequences of using the devices improperly, will need to be put in place.
“So far we’ve gotten some great support for the resolution and the idea of bringing the policy up-to-date,” Sears said.
McGee said he is also confident in the resolution and is glad that the word is getting out to students.
“We hope that the student government giving the student voice to the Department of Safety and Transportation will allow them to make an informed decision when it comes to revising this policy,” McGee said.
Huff said it was too early to comment on the desire to modify the policy, but did mention the responsibility of students. He said it is important for students to use devices, such as bikes, properly because campus traffic can get congested, and accidents can occur.
“We try to have bike paths and other means to keep traffic on campus safe for students,” Huff said. “All it takes, though, is one student to go too fast, or decide to do tricks, and other students can be affected.”
To learn more about MSU’s policies, visit http://www.missouristate.edu/conferences/studentmsupolicies.htm. Students can also follow the progress of the resolution, or show support on SGA’s twitter feed @MOStateSGA.
