Skateboarding on campus banned
Raven Bull
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Opinion
Skateboarding was commonplace on the University of Cincinnati's campus. Some students skateboarded to class while others did tricks on school property.
Now all skateboarding has been banned on campus said officer Doug Barge, of the University of Cincinnati Crime Prevention.
New signs have been posted in strategic places around campus announcing the ban on skateboarding.
Eugene Ferrara, director of Public Safety, said at first "[Skateboarding] is not banned on all of UC's campus. As transportation it's fine. No tricks."
Now however, all skateboarding has been banned because of issues with liability and the destruction of school property, including skating as transportation.
The signs have been posted in areas where skateboarders do tricks.
What happens if students fall while grinding and injures themselves? They could sue UC for loads of money. What if a non-student does the same? This is a public university so non-students can access the campus at all times, after all.
"The safety issue is two-fold," Ferrara said. "The ban is because of reports of skateboarders zipping by pedestrians, almost knocking them over. The second part is because of the potential with liability."
Ferrara said the property that is being damaged by skateboarders was not intended to be used for that purpose. He also said it took a lot of money, time and effort to get the campus looking good.
There are huge black lines where students grind on the low set walls, which make the campus look ugly.
Because there was no way previously to enforce the ban, Barge and others are putting up two inch by two-inch metal brackets on the walls where they do tricks. "It will make them wipe out," Barge said.
He also said that more juveniles come on campus and skate than our students. This ties into the liability issue. If non-students are coming on campus skating won't the metal brackets that "will make them wipe out" be a self-fulfilling prophecy? UC wants the ban to prevent skating because they don't want people hurting themselves and for the look of the campus overall.
Now all skateboarding has been banned on campus said officer Doug Barge, of the University of Cincinnati Crime Prevention.
New signs have been posted in strategic places around campus announcing the ban on skateboarding.
Eugene Ferrara, director of Public Safety, said at first "[Skateboarding] is not banned on all of UC's campus. As transportation it's fine. No tricks."
Now however, all skateboarding has been banned because of issues with liability and the destruction of school property, including skating as transportation.
The signs have been posted in areas where skateboarders do tricks.
What happens if students fall while grinding and injures themselves? They could sue UC for loads of money. What if a non-student does the same? This is a public university so non-students can access the campus at all times, after all.
"The safety issue is two-fold," Ferrara said. "The ban is because of reports of skateboarders zipping by pedestrians, almost knocking them over. The second part is because of the potential with liability."
Ferrara said the property that is being damaged by skateboarders was not intended to be used for that purpose. He also said it took a lot of money, time and effort to get the campus looking good.
There are huge black lines where students grind on the low set walls, which make the campus look ugly.
Because there was no way previously to enforce the ban, Barge and others are putting up two inch by two-inch metal brackets on the walls where they do tricks. "It will make them wipe out," Barge said.
He also said that more juveniles come on campus and skate than our students. This ties into the liability issue. If non-students are coming on campus skating won't the metal brackets that "will make them wipe out" be a self-fulfilling prophecy? UC wants the ban to prevent skating because they don't want people hurting themselves and for the look of the campus overall.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Jeffrey Rose
posted 10/22/07 @ 7:25 AM EST
To bad the dumb skateboarders had to ruin it for everyone AGAIN. I attended Iowa State University in the early 1980's and skated to campus every day. (Continued…)
5chw4r7z
posted 10/22/07 @ 9:03 PM EST
You know, these knee-jerk reactions always make me mad. Instead of banning it, why don't they think outside the box and build a skatepark and encourage the kids to grind there? I guess banning it is easy and doesn't take a great deal of thought. (Continued…)
Old Fart
posted 10/23/07 @ 9:00 AM EST
I used to skate (blades, not boards) on UC's campus in the early 90's and we had a great time. On weekends and during the summer, when campus is largely deserted, there's nobody around to bother. (Continued…)
Chris Retzler
posted 10/24/07 @ 12:05 PM EST
I agree with 5chw4r7z, rather than attempt to stop a sport which has millions of followers, we should be giving them a place to practice it. Years ago, we built a free skatepark in my hometown and it dramatically changed the scene and got a good amount of skaters off of the College of Wooster. (Continued…)
gerard
posted 10/25/07 @ 8:06 AM EST
5chw4r7z is right. Giving these kids a place to skate would solve this problem. There are skate parks all over this region in the suburbs. I recently saw on in Bowling Green, KY. (Continued…)
olderolder farter
posted 11/27/07 @ 9:02 AM EST
these people r stupid skateboarding is the best sport and skateboarding is awesome. these people that make all these bans suck. they could build a skatepark first. (Continued…)
assy mcgee
posted 4/17/08 @ 10:46 AM EST
this is so stupid why would you want to take away something that the kids enjoy i mean its no t really fair yeha theres the chance that they will fall and hurt themselves and that could be a liability but if your putting up grindblockers your wanting them to fall whats the point just let them skate its not hurting anyone and apperantly the students ddont mind because they skate to
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