Chapman implements crossing guards near student dorms
Over the past few weeks, students have noticed crossing guards on duty near the dorms during high-traffic times to help with student safety. Photo by SIMRAH AHMAD, Staff Photographer
Around the beginning of April, students started noticing crossing guards stationed at the intersection of East Walnut Ave. and North Center St. and also at the pedestrian crosswalk on Walnut.
Chapman Chief of Public Safety Ricardo Gonzalez explained that the school has implemented crossing guards in the past and typically in the first few weeks of the school year.
“We constantly assess the need for crossing guards and decided to implement them,” Gonzalez stated in an email to The Panther. “Without the crossing guards there to regulate foot traffic, the flow is continuous and causes traffic to back up.”
According to Gonzalez, the crossing guards are there to help students get across the street safely while also regulating vehicle traffic flow.
He also mentioned that the crossing guards are stationed at these crosswalks from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as well as from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to help with rush hour traffic for students attending classes.
Gonzalez stated that the guards are contracted with a private company that Chapman works with.
Sally Pamater is a crossing guard who has recently been working at the pedestrian crosswalk near the dorms. She explained that they were given the assignment of working at Chapman on April 8. She stated that the reactions of drivers and of students have been mixed.
“For the most part, students have been nice about us being here, and I guess my bigger concern is that people driving don’t often stop right away. However, there is some negativity from students with remarks like, ‘What are you doing here?’ or ‘We’re grown adults,’ and I get it because I would take offense too.”
Freshman applied human physiology major Peyton Mitchell lived in Morlan Hall, one of Chapman’s student dorms, during the school year. Therefore, she often had to cross the street where the crossing guards are in order to get to the main campus.
She explained that she understood why there had been crossing guards placed on Walnut but felt that it was a little “silly” at times since there are traffic lights and crossing signs.
Mitchell shared her thoughts on possible alternatives instead of having the crossing guards.
“I feel that it would have been more beneficial to send out emails about driving safely rather than a crossing guard,” Mitchell said. “Also, maybe (having) someone out there to give tickets to actually prevent people from speeding through because the crossing guards are out at such random times. It is unhelpful and doesn’t actually prevent much dangerous driving, especially at night.”
Gonzalez stated that the crossing guards were stationed on Walnut until the end of the semester.
“I feel that it would have been more beneficial to send out emails about driving safely rather than a crossing guard. Also, maybe (having) someone out there to give tickets to actually prevent people from speeding through because the crossing guards are out at such random times. It is unhelpful and doesn’t actually prevent much dangerous driving, especially at night.”
