Snow and ice have remained on campus more often this winter than in previous years, affecting student parking lots, sidewalks and other areas. Campus safety might have found a solution to the problem.
Campus Safety Officer John Stewart and Director of Campus Safety and Compliance Chris Buckley have created an on-campus shovel program called “Make a Better Way” for students. To borrow a shovel, students must call KSC Campus Safety at 603-358-2228 and ask to take one. Students can then go to Keddy Hall, go to the dispatch window and ask for a shovel. The officer will take Owl ID cards while the shovels are in use. Students can use a shovel for up to an hour and then when it is brought back, the officer will give back the ID card.
“The intent of the program is not to ask students to get rid of all of the snow in the parking lots. We have had students complain that we are asking them to shovel everything, but we aren’t,” Buckley said. “We are not asking students to do anything they would not do in the driveways of their own homes. Currently, we have eight shovels for students to borrow, so if you do borrow one, please make sure it gets returned within an hour so that other students who need a shovel can have access to one.”
Buckley continued that with the snowstorms over the last few weeks, cars that are not used often do not get cleaned off, and the ice builds up. Cars that do not move from spots for weeks at a time also make it difficult for the lots to fully get cleaned. Students wouldn’t have to shovel everything, but if they have a low clearance or do not have four-wheel drive, a plow cannot get to every inch of the lot, so the shovel is a way for students to clear around the car and behind the wheels to help get the car out.
“If a car isn’t cleaned off right away, the snow and ice builds up, and then when it gets cleaned off, it refreezes on the ground causing the lots to freeze,” Buckley said. “If cars get cleaned soon after the snow stops, it would solve a lot of problems for the lots.”
When speaking with students, Buckley said some did not have ice scrapers in their cars, and he expressed that students should get one if they don’t have one already.
“I’ve seen some students clean off their cars with their coat sleeves, coffee cups and more. If students had a scraper it would make their lives a lot easier.”
According to Buckley, “Make a Better Way” has the potential to be effective and could have a long-term impact at Keene State.
“I think it is a good idea because it helps students who don’t have the funds to go and get their own shovel,” first-year student Eric Allen said. He added that “Make a Better Way” should stick around past this semester if it proves successful.
“I think it should stick around,” he said. “If it doesn’t stick around, that would essentially be an unnecessary use of college funds buying the shovels in the first place if it doesn’t continue.”
Allen went on to agree with Buckley, saying students can help by getting ice scrapers and cleaning off their cars as soon as possible after snowfall. He also said he believes the Owl Card strategy should be an effective way to keep students from permanently taking shovels. “It is a good way to prevent stealing the shovels because students wouldn’t have their Owl Cards.”
Buckley also called attention to the college’s parking and motor vehicles policy, specifically, section 10: Parking lot closures. According to the policy, the college has the right to close all lots for campus events, construction or snow removal. Cars not moved would be in violation and subject to ticketing and/or towing. Buckley urged students to provide help if snow continues like that to make sure lots can be cleared for all the students who keep their cars on campus.
Dominic Rubio can be contacted at
drubio@kscequinox.com
