My name is Lydia McCully and I am presently a junior and current women’s basketball player here at the University. Year after year, winter strikes our campus with multiple ice storms. These ice storms result in extremely slick streets and roads that make it almost unbearable to walk and drive on. Yet when these exhausting ice storms hit Champaign County, students are constantly in fear for their lives and embarrassment. Unfortunately our campus grounds maintenance doesn’t seem to be as concerned about the problem as does the student population. Due to lack of salt being laid and streets being plowed, ice storms have become a huge safety issue for U of I.
Just last week my close friend and teammate was in an accident at the corner of Fourth and Armory. While attempting to stop at a stop sign, she slid through hitting a turning bus. Luckily no one was injured but I can’t say the same for her car, which was totaled. Previously the same day as I made my way to campus I was accompanied by my own constant laughter from watching person after person slip, slide, and fall on their way to class. Even the infamous bikers who are loyal to their transportation regardless of rain, hail or snow (which I still don’t understand) seemed to walk cautiously with their bikes avoiding any possible injuries. Although fixing this problem would be at the expense of my enjoyment, it is a problem that must be solved for the sake and health of our peers.
Days before the ice storms reach central Illinois local news stations warn us about the oncoming weather. Still maintenance seems to take their time lying salt as if they were surprised. On a daily basis, I wake up around 6:30 a.m. and make my way to practice, driving down Kirby and up Fourth. Yet I never see any type of maintenance out trying to take care of the common problems caused by the yearly ice storms. Because this problem does not only affect the student but affects the faculty and staff of U of I as well I am shocked that this problem hasn’t been handled yet. I’m writing this letter in hopes that it will bring attention to one of the campus’s major yet less talked about problems.
Lydia McCully,
junior in LAS
