Author: Josh Biers
Much of Oxy’s skater community was in an uproar last week after Oxy Community Director Chad Meyers sent out a policy reminder regarding the use of skateboards on campus. He reiterated that the use of skateboards, long-boards, scooters and any other modes of transportation not authorized as vehicles (according to Section 670 of the California Vehicle Code) are prohibited on Occidental’s campus. It was not immediately clear why the e-mail was sent out, as there have been no skating mishaps or incidents yet this year.
Do the skaters of Oxy have a right to be upset about this policy reminder? Was this rule initially designed as a pointless way to make the lives of skaters more difficult? I thought so. Skateboarding is common across many other college campuses, and it is a popular hobby and mode of transportation for people all around the world.
In some high schools in New Jersey and California, skateboarding has even been formally integrated into the curriculum and offered as a class. Intrigued by the policy, I set out to find the reasoning behind it. After an interview with Director of Campus Safety Holly Nieto and Director of Risk Management Rebecca Dowling, I became convinced that this policy is in fact a legitimate one designed to ensure the safety of Occidental students.
Oxy is often described as a beautiful, green campus, but little emphasis is placed on its topographic layout. At best it can be described as hilly, but the students having to trek between dorms and classes several times a day may think of it in less friendly terms. It is this unique terrain that has forced the college to implement this policy, for its long slopes and frequent road bumps are hazardous for all who skate on them.Eric Leider (sophomore), who skates as a hobby, said, “For myself, the bumps and steep slopes of Oxy make skateboarding a lot more fun.” Other skateboarders, such as Jeremiah Slowik (junior), acknowledge the dangers of skating on campus. “The level of difficulty to ride the campus roads is almost at a professional status,” he said in an e-mail interview.
In any case, these bumps and slopes have caused horrendous injuries in the recent past. Nieto and Dowling mentioned that there have been two major skateboarding accidents in the last three years, both of which have resulted in severe injuries, including a devastating back injury. “The responding officer will never forget the scene of the accident,” Nieto said. “This policy is to ensure no such accident happens again.”
One could argue, and some have, that if skateboarding is prohibited, then bicycling needs to have similar restrictions. “Bikes should be banned as well; they’re bigger and those riding them take the same risks as skateboarders,” Nalin Vahil (sophomore) said.
But as Dowling iterated, there are a few factors that make bicycles more acceptable than skateboards. Bicycles are recognized as vehicles by the DMV and have appropriate accommodations on campus. More importantly, bikes have brakes, which are vital for safety on a hilly campus. Skateboards, unfortunately, lack this crucial feature.Thinking critically, one must question whether or not the current policy will actually prevent skaters from skating on campus. In the words of Slowik, “Hell no.” And can anyone really enforce this policy? That’s like asking if the policy which states that all bicycles have to be licensed with the DMV is enforced. One could probably figure out who the habitual offenders are, but tracking down every single person who skates would be much more difficult. The number of skateboarders has increased this year, and Nieto says it’s “only a matter of time before another incident happens.” The school has put into place pointless policies before (see bicycle license above), but it has also implemented rules that have the safety of the students in mind and this is one of them. Please heed it.
Josh Biers is an undeclared sophomore. He can be reached at biers@oxy.edu.
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