Skateboarding on campus: a misused privilege

BY LIZET IBARRA Staff Writer

Skateboarding has become a convenient way for students to get to class in a timely fashion at Long Beach State. However, some misuse the privilege to skateboard on campus and that can lead to serious accidents.

There are definitely benefits to skateboarding. Not only do skateboarders add personality and life to campus; students also have the opportunity to practice a hobby while getting from class to class.

Skating also has health benefits such as improving flexibility, coordination and physical endurance.

A study by the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education found that skating improves mental health by relieving stress. It also brings a sense of community as people connect with others through this shared passion. Skateboarding also encourages resilience, a trait that skaters can apply to all aspects of their lives.

Although skating is a wonderful creative outlet and has many benefits, students should be able to walk around campus freely without the fear of a skater approaching them at quick speeds.

This does not mean that students should not be able to skate on campus, but skaters should be mindful of students on campus while they skate, skating only where the activity is permitted.

The university police website has a skateboard policy posted which delineates the rules that skateboarders must follow.

Skateboarders must yield to pedestrians at all times and must not exceed five mph. Rolling down the hills on East Campus Drive and West Campus Drive is

BY MATTHEW GOMEZ Sports Editor

The Long Beach State women’s basketball program took the opportunity to introduce the newly hired head coach Amy Wright to players, alumni, staff and the media Thursday night at the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center.

“So why Long Beach,” Wright said. “It’s the only NCAA institution with the name beach in it, it is the only place where you get to play basketball in a pyramid and so it’s already unique. It’s already unique in itself.”

Before Wright took the podium she was introduced by both Interim Athletics Director Ted Kadowaki and LBSU President Jane Close Conoley.

“Her energy and enthusiasm are sure to be an asset to the program as she seeks to develop her players on and off the court and build a winning culture certainly on the court but also in the classroom,” Conoley said.

Wright is adopting a team that lost five key seniors and though she mentioned you don’t replace players it’ll be hard to fill that void. LBSU’s final game this season was a loss to the University of San Diego Toreros in a game where also not allowed. The policy also states that riding devices, such as skateboards, for any type of stunts is prohibited, as well as using devices in pedestrian-only zones.

In addition, the policy lists, “Coasting devices may not be used in any manner that places pedestrians at risk.” Unfortunately, this means that skaters can’t skateboard as freely as they wish on campus, because pedestrians may get injured.

As tempting as ramps might be to roll down on, rolling down ramps is a hazard that could lead to serious injuries for other students and skaters. Anyone would feel awful injuring a fellow student by accident.