The University of Utah Academic Senate is reviewing proposed increases in penalties for skateboarders and bicyclists who are not following safety regulations on campus. The University’s Police Chief Scott Folsom says after a professor was injured by speeding skateboarders, concerns arose for the safety of the University community. He says the draft being considered allows first offenders to be warned.
“If they’re caught behaving inappropriately again that there’s a more robust penalty if you will to help discourage continuing non-compliance with the policy,” says Folsom.
The Police Chief says he would rather devote law enforcement resources to other issues but keeping students, staff and faculty safe is his department’s goal.
The manager at skateboard shop Milosport, Trevor Brady, says as a student and skater at the U himself, it’s not fair to target skateboarders because cyclists go faster and can be just a reckless. He suggests creating a skateboard-friendly area at the U.
“Because I don’t think you’re ever going to stop people from skating at the U because it is such like, it’s like a Salt Lake famous spot man. Everybody goes up there to skate,” says Brady.
Keith Sterling, the University’s communications director, says action on the proposal is being delayed because the Academic Senate is concerned about the severity of the language and wants to review it further before voting in June.
