Karina Araujo| Staff Writer
Why fix something that’s not broken? Why get rid of something that works perfectly fine? The trend of out with the old and in with the new plagues our culture. We’re fickle and within reason this aids growth. As we know, not all changes lead to growth, or a positive outcome. This is the case we have with the removal of simple crosswalk.
Those attending Utah Valley University have the added benefits of having one of the top three largest LDS Institute centers adjacent to its campus. The leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has extended their arms to those wanting to visit the Institute program, welcoming both bond and free—married or single—to attend. Their ages usually range from 18-30. Along with this welcome has come an invitation by the President of the Mormon Church, President Thomas S. Monson in the 2009 General Conference, he encouraged young adults to “make Institute a priority.”
Usually to every good thing comes an obstacle, whether it is rain on your wedding day or the flu on your birthday. For most LDS young adults the hardships come in actually trying to get to their Institute classes. There has been on-going construction on campus since June 2012 when ground was broken to begin the building of the new Parking structure and the Student Life and Wellness Building.
UVU President Matthew S. Holland commented on the building of these upcoming facilities saying, “Research shows that the more students are engaged with campus life, the more likely they are to reach their educational goals. It will be yet another symbol of UVU’s commitment to student success.”
Those in power make all of the decisions for students and faculty about what would be best for them. Which raises the question we all know the answer to: did any of us have say in the matter?
Many may notice that the Institute building is located right behind these facilities and what used to be easy access to the Institute building has gone from a walk, to a hike. The university wants us to become more engaged with campus life, assuming all aspects of it, social and religious. However it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Mormon students and even those students who attend Institute for free parking to get to it.
The crosswalk that used to be located between the Institute parking lot and the SLWC building has left those trying to access the building with two options, either walking up the hill towards oncoming cars or cutting through the parking lot to go through the underground tunnel that emerges up again through the parking structure.
Some students may not notice and just resign themselves to their only two options they have always known.
According to Manuel Reyes, “Removing the crosswalk makes me dread the days when I have to walk all the way to the other side of campus. I even feel bad when I have to leave class early because every minute counts.”
This issue goes back to the power struggle that is ongoing in our learning institutions. The changes that are happening around campus are they solicited. Students requesting Taco Bell? Yes. Students requesting a bowling alley? No. Most of the time it is empty and deserted. Students requesting a crosswalk to be removed? Definitely not.
Maybe it’s not a huge deal to have every other building be readily accessible, but if UVU wants to continue to encourage its students to be involved and enthusiastic, it should make sure students have easy access to these facilities so attending institute doesn’t interfere with their class schedules. UVU should also ensure all changes being made to campus, which will directly affect its students be ran by this first. Yes we like change, but we also like consent and we also like changes to be beneficial.
