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UNIVERSITY THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS OF UMKC Feb. 21, 2011 Vol. 78, Issue 22 Tech N9ne 9reigns over KC 2 Are pedestrians safe on campus? 11 The V word Photo by Kevin Bryce with 17 How to slam illustration by Kate Lawler and Mark Linville dunk 2 NEWS Vol. 78, Issue 22 Safety tips For pedestrians • Check for oncoming traffic before crossing the street. • Only cross the street at pedestrian crosswalks. • Pay attention to stop and yield signs; some in- tersections, such as 52nd and Holmes streets, do not have a stop sign. Others, such as 52nd and Cherry, do not have four-way stop signs and are notorious for speeding drivers. • Be careful in parking garages, where drivers have a tendency to turn corners quickly. For drivers • The campus speed limit is 10 mph, unless posted otherwise. • Pay attention to pedestrian crosswalks and posted signs. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks. • Pay attention when turning corners in park- ing garages and lots. • Be courteous to other drivers. There is no stop sign along Cherry Street in front of the Student Union, which is coincidentally one of the heaviest pedestrian traffic areas on campus. Photo by Andre Paredes Mark Linville News Editor Sophomore Walker Cowles feels the street pot of where campus begins to physically connect high traffic areas such as the intersection at rd53 lights are a factor in pedestrian safety. with the city, the inevitable is bound to happen and Cherry Street. On Feb. 3, 2003, freshman piano major Pei “I feel like the lights turn off or dim when you when one of our own will suffer a serious injury or Rennicke thinks the university should Chen was hit by an oncoming van while crossing walk under them especially on the route from the death while trying to cross Oak Street.” moderate that area. at 54th Street and Troost Avenue. quad to the student Union [51st Street],” Cowles Clarke who was also a forerunner for the “I think the campus should hire a couple traffic Chen was treated at St. Luke’s Hospital and said. advertising team for the Bus Pass referendum last officers in between Epperson, Education, Law was in critical condition until Feb. 14, the day she The area Cowles refers to is in close proximity week feels strongly about the issue. School, and then also at 51st where people cross passed away from her injuries. to where a student was struck last March. “UMKC takes pride that we are located within the street to get to the quad.” It’s been seven years since Chen’s death, A student crossing the street by the Rockhill a city, but when it comes to crossing the street Most think the University should do more to however, UMKC has seen several incidents like parking structure on 52nd street, was struck by from campus into the city, pedestrian safety has ensure pedestrian safety, but what are they doing? this happen on campus. According to the UMKC Parking and According to UMKC Police Department Transportation Task Force Report and records, there have been a total of seven cases. Recommendations, campus policies are stated “Since Jan. 2, 2000 to Feb. 8, 2011, we have UMKC takes pride that we are located within a city, but regarding pedestrians in the pedestrian walkability had seven total pedestrian vs. vehicle incidents when it comes to crossing the street from campus into the of campus section of the 29 page report submitted reported to us,” UMKC Police Captain Donald city, pedestrian safety has been thrown out the window. Aug 5, 2009. The report can be found at www. S. Simmons said. “Three of which were on our umkc.edu/adminfinance/parking/images/pdfs/ campus and the other four were on the city task%20force/Parking-and-Transportation-Task- streets.” “ -Andrew Clarke Force-Report-August-2009.pdf. Just last semester, two hit-and-run incidents “Walkability is a major incentive for people were reported to the U-News in the Police Blotter. on campus to walk to classes, meeting, lunch On Sept. 28, a pedestrian was struck by a staff communications professor, Donald Shields. been thrown out the window,” Clarke said. and other activities, rather than driving and member at Miller Nichols Library. The staff Eye witnesses watched Shields speed down Though many feel the campus is unsafe” for incorporate walking as a part of their multi-modal member fled the scene. Holmes Street and hit the student, causing the pedestrians, many drivers feel differently. commute,” the report says. “UMKC scored an A Then again on Nov. 29, another incident took student to fly through the air. Some drivers claim walking students do not in categories of directness, completeness, visual place at the Law School. Associate Professor of Communication make themselves aware of oncoming traffic. interests, and amenities, security with a B in the With so many reports, some students have Studies Peter Morello was also a witness in March. “I think pedestrians, and I know from when I category of the street crossing due to high motor become worried about their safety while walking He commented in an article by the U-News lived on campus, are bad about not caring if cars traffic volume.” on campus. stating there is too little control at 52nd and are coming or not,” junior Austin Rennicke said. According to the report, the effectiveness of Sophomore Sara Conwell said she feels unsafe Holmes Street. Sophomore Hieu To thinks the pedestrians the campus design can be seen to the North, East, crossing the street by her on-campus apartment. “People are always driving too fast,” Morello should be more considerate while crossing the and the West, including both Oak and Rockhill “When I cross Oak Street from the apartments, said. “There needs to be some control, like speed street. Streets. I feel unsafe because it is hard to see around the bumps or signage.” “Pedestrians think only about themselves and “The campus was designed with walking parked cars and you can’t see if a car is coming,” In a Dec. 7, 2009 Letter to the Editor, Senior how they can get from point A to point B the students in mind, providing wide sidewalks, Conwell said. Andrew Clarke submitted his take on pedestrian fastest,” To said. “Instead of watching where they landscaping and visual amenities throughout,” the Others feel UMKC should take more action safety on campus. are going and forgetting that cars can be a death report continues to read. toward the safety issue. “Throughout campus, the speed limit is 25 machine on wheels , they would blindly walk in “[UMKC] should have a UMKC Police officer mph. Yet the area that houses the highest amount the street hoping on blind fate that the cars will at the corner of 50th and Oak Street during rush of Roo density is the most dangerous area for stop for them.” hour,” junior Amanda Osborne said. those of us on foot,” Clarke said. “At the melting Many believe traffice should be monitored in Continued on pg. 4 Feb. 21, 2011 NEWS 3 Meet the candidates A look at the people running in the 4th District At-Large city council race John Crawford Age: 63 Neighborhood: Crestwood Experience: Development attorney, pushed legislation that created Community Improvement Districts Political role model: John F. Kennedy SGA sponsors 4th District Website: www.friendsofjohncrawford.com At-Large city council forum Jim Glover Age: 59 Nathan Zoschke Polsinelli project. stating he would support the project only if he Neighborhood: Hyde Park Copy Editor/Asst. Production Manager Crawford voiced concerns over historic believed certain issues had been legitimately Experience: Attorney, former preservation and traffic volume generated resolved. councilman, spearheaded Low turnout at the Student Government by the proposed building, but pointed out Ed Pace, who did not attend the forum, also Midtown Marketplace Association’s (SGA) 4th District At-Large that the Polsinelli proposal has been “the opposes the Polsinelli project. development City Council Forum did not stop the lively first project of its size that has not sought city “The current design does not comport Campaign slogan: “Jim Glover: debate. assistance.” with the architectural characteristics of the The right fit at the right time” Candidates John Crawford, Jim Glover He also cited support for the project from neighborhood,” Pace wrote in response to a Website: www.glover4kc.com and Anne McGregor attended the event the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City Star questionnaire. Wednesday, Feb. 16 in the University Center and some city planners, who found the Presley, who also did not attend the forum, Room 106. project to be consistent with the Plaza Plan, a supports the project. The other candidates, Ed Pace and Annie set of guidelines that prevent the construction “The third design, traffic study and Presley, were not in attendance. However, of high-rise buildings on the original Plaza parking capacity all meet or exceed the Plaza Anne McGregor student Carrie Smith represented Presley by blocks. Plan,” Presley wrote in response to the Star Age: 53 reading a prepared statement from Presley, But McGregor, a fierce opponent of the questionnaire. “These jobs need to stay in Neighborhood: Southmoreland who was attending a dinner held by the Heavy proposal, challenged Crawford, stating the Kansas City.” Experience: Owner of MC2 Constructors Association at the time. project violated the Plaza Plan by requesting The second question was what candidates Consultants, public service The forum was moderated by would do to improve blighted experience SGA Intern Kaitlin Claren, who neighborhoods. UMKC connection: allowed each candidate a four- Just because [Polsinelli Law Firm] want a 47th Glover’s response focused on Graduated in 1981 with degree in minute introduction and asked two Street address is not significant enough to allow creation of jobs and retail devel- business discussion questions.