Good Morning,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading the Argus since I began working at Wesleyan. It’s nice to see that students are able to sound off and not be penalized by the school administration, unlike where I went to college. So, keep up the good work. However, I have a few comments on the article titled “Traffic Emergency” by James Buturla, class of 2006. I understand that Wesleyan students are concerned about the two students who have been hit by cars within the last year. I also noticed that Mr. Buturla blames “whoever set up the streets” around the school for these incidents, in addition to the drivers of the vehicles. I find this rather amusing, but I am also concerned.
Is it the perception of most students that this college is as old if not older than the city of Middletown itself? It is my understanding, and I would be happy to go to the Middlesex County Historical Society with this young man, that these streets are older than the university. I’m not completely 100 percent sure, but if you consider the age of the city versus the age of the college, I’m sure that the statement I made has some validity. Perhaps current students should not assume that cars are going to stop for them and play it safe. I have had some experiences with students who have not even looked both ways while crossing in a cross-walk or non-cross walk area. I remember my parents drilling it into my head that I was to look both ways while crossing a street. I’m only 22, so maybe that teaching had gone out of style by the time these 18-21 year olds came around.
I’m certainly not trying to place all the blame on Wesleyan students. Both incidents have proved to be accidents where both the driver and the student were at fault. However, it is not the intention of most people traveling through town to pick off students as they walk illegally across the street. I agree that those newly placed signs on Church and Cross Streets are not the best, but they are an improvement over having nothing at all. I have noticed more people thinking that they automatically have to stop for them anyway regardless of whether there is a student in the cross-walk or not.
Anyway, I hope that the next time Mr. Buturla includes such a statement in an article, that he does a little more research beforehand. I’m sure that this young man has enough on his mind with graduation coming up and I wish him the best of luck. I wish everyone at the Argus a wonderful and safe summer and I look forward to reading the newspaper when everyone comes back to campus in the fall.
Best,
Sarah Atwell
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