Trying to save a little extra cash by not purchasing parking passes has students parking around campus in places such as Albertsons, residential neighborhoods, or parking lots across from the university, and dodging cars while crossing major intersections.
During the school day we see students jaywalking across streets to get to their classes, which brings up the question of whether or not Colorado Mesa University has provided its students enough crosswalks for their daily commute.
Crosswalks were put up at two locations on 12th Street to help with the hundreds of faculty and students who cross daily to prevent accidents and ensure safety. Even though these two crosswalks are easy to spot in clear daylight with the massive yellow signs and the circular yellow lights blinking, giving the right away for pedestrians to cross, there have still been problems with students getting hit by vehicles that should be yielding at a crosswalk.
Whether or not CMU should take further action in making sure that everyone is safe when crossing busy streets has become more of a voiced opinion by students.
Vice President of Student Services John Marshall said CMU has been working closely with the City of Grand Junction to put in a few more crosswalks around campus.
“The City’s been really cooperative,” Marshall said. “We’ve been working with them and student government on putting a crosswalk in over by Albertsons. We’re also looking at Orchard really closely because we’re about to build residence halls there, so we’ve now got a new challenge there.”
Although more crosswalks will likely be available in the future, Marshall stressed that students need to be paying attention, regardless if they’re in a vehicle, or on foot.
“Pressing the button without looking up and walking out into one of the busiest streets in Grand Junction is not a prudent decision, and that’s why I think these crosswalks create a false sense of security in some ways,” Marshall said. “A crosswalk does not change your obligation as a pedestrian to look both ways.”
A skywalk constructed over North Avenue was a question brought up by students as well.
“I think that a sky walk would be a good idea if it’s going to stimulate our local economy and give jobs to the locals, but as far as the school goes, I think they should cooperate with the City and try to discuss some alternate routes to take some of the traffic off of 12th Street all together,” senior Matt Moore said.
Marshall said that it’s not necessary to build a skywalk because most likely, students will end up jaywalking and not even bothering to use it. The money that would be put into building a skywalk could be money that is better off put into classrooms to benefit students.

nstimack@mavs.coloradomesa.edu