 "Photo: Matthew Zu/Poly Post")
As the complaints mount up against the use of coasting devices on Cal Poly's campus, school officials have opened up discussion on Blackboard in order to review and update the existing policy, which prohibits the use of skateboards, scooters and in-line skates in and around campus buildings.
The discussion board, which is open until the end of February, is available to students and staff who wish to voice their opinions on the current policy. University Police have had trouble enforcing skateboard regulations, according to an e-mail sent to the campus Feb. 4.
Throughout the last several years, the issue of skateboarding and wheeling around school has become more troublesome as many faculty and staff have complained about the growing population of students who ride around campus in violation of the current policy.
"We've been having these discussions now going on two years," said Michael Guerin, Cal Poly's chief of police and director of public safety. "It was spurred by ever-increasing complaints to the police department and directly to the president by faculty, staff and even a couple of students who have almost been run over by a couple of skateboarders."
According to Presidential Order 7.2, which covers parking and traffic rules and regulations, the usage of any coasting devices is banned on all parts of campus.
"I think it's a bummer if it gets banned," said Will Martinet, a third-year finance, real estate and law student.
Cal Poly has the second largest campus of all CSUs. It takes most students at least ten minutes to walk it's extent.
"With the campus so big it kind of helps with getting to class easier and quicker. It is a faster way to get around campus."
Guerin said the act has been in place at least since he came to Cal Poly four years ago, but students continue to ride to class.
University police have taken little action, yet they've found the real problems lie within the inner parts of campus, such as the university quad and walkways near the Bronco Student Center.
Students congregate around these centers of campus, and skateboarders zooming by can potentially be dangerous, according to Guerin.
"The concern is the inner part of the campus, where we'll try and keep riders from … hurting themselves or other people", said Guerin.
While faculty and staff complain about long boards, Razor scooters and even motorized skateboards, several students aren't bothered.
"It kind of startles me sometimes, but it isn't that big of a deal," said Malia Wofford, a fifth-year apparel and merchandising student.
As of Sunday, there were 213 posts on Blackboard. Most students were not in support of the current policy.
"We developed the Blackboard [Web] site to let students post their opinion and give everyone some input," said Ron Fremont, associate vice president for University Relations.
At the end of the month, the discussion will close and the posts will be organized and processed by the presidential cabinet.
"We're going to take all the feedback we get, and we'll all take a look at it and then run with a decision," said Fremont. "I can't give you an exact date, but I assure you we'll move on it as quickly as we can."
Gwen Urey, an urban and regional planning professor, has recently come to think of skateboarding as a form of transportation not just recreation.
"Skating is a sustainable mode of transportation and should be accommodated," she wrote on the discussion board.
Urey suggests that in light of Cal Poly's climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, the university should kick the cars off campus and open the on-campus traffic lanes to non-motorized wheels.
"Build a skate park on the roof of the parking garage," she said. "At a fraction of the cost of the proposed 'rec center.'"
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