The Auburn University campus is idyllic.
Students frolic in fields, tossing Frisbees, sunbathing, studying and swapping sundry stories.
The sun always shines. Strangers greet other strangers with smiles.
Cats lie with dogs.
It's a beautiful thing.
But, even in Auburn, small town America incarnate, safety is an issue.
We're more than two years removed from the 2008 death of Lauren Burk which shook the campus and community, bringing national attention to our Southern oasis and forcing all present to ask just how safe Auburn is, campus and town.
While a tragedy of such magnitude has not been repeated, only last year, at least 12 citizens were involved in pedestrian accidents.
After the numerous car-meets-person accidents, the University installed five generator-powered lights to help light darkened Magnolia Avenue.
The lights, which were ugly and loud, showed the University was at least trying to improve pedestrian safety, even if it damaged Auburn's oh-so-important aesthetic.
Two red-lettered warning signs were placed on crosswalks on Magnolia and various other high-risk crosswalks around campus, all but forcing drivers to stop for oncoming pedestrians.
These signs served their purpose--drivers are now more apt to stop for walkers.
A new problem arose, however.
The signs are bolted to the street and sometimes cause for awkward and, depending on the location, dangerous turns, such as at crosswalk signs near Chick-fil-A.
The signs have also disrupted traffic flow.
Some drivers don't seem to realize they only have to stop when pedestrians are present.
They aren't stop signs; they're there to remind drivers to yield to pedestrians.
Even with increased crosswalk awareness, students still jaywalk with reckless abandon.
The attitude seems to be, "I'm not in danger. No one's around. Who cares?"
Which is often true, but mistakes happen.
Mistakes like the dozen or so which ended with sirens and ambulances.
University cops threatened to begin ticketing jaywalk offenders and even gave "warning" tickets for a few days, but nothing came of the threat.
To get the attention of a college student, hit his or her wallet.
They'll gnash teeth and complain, but the desired result--less jaywalkers, safer streets--will be accomplished.
The University should be applauded for the morning and afternoon crosswalk guards on Donahue.
These guards allow the droves of students walking from the Village to campus to cross in a timely fashion.
Safety is a year-round issue, but September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month.
This month, the University's Department of Public Safety and Security will host various events to highlight safety issues and improvements around campus, such as the above crosswalk improvements as well as newer additions, such as the campus' new state-of-the-art P.A. system, which will "alert students by voice of any emergency on campus, from fires to bomb threats." (from "Campus safety takes priority in September" C1)
Campus safety is a constant battle. New threats and dangers appear constantly. Constant vigilance is the only defense.
Be smart, be safe.
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