After two pedestrian deaths on the Illinois State University [ISU] campus – one in 2021, another in 2022 – a survey was sent out to identify the most problematic areas for both foot and vehicle traffic.
The votes suggested intersections had the most problems, and according to data from the Town of Normal, 87% of accidents resulting in serious injuries or death happen at intersections.
In response, the Town of Normal and ISU agreed on several temporary safety measures, including the closure of a small stretch of School Street where it intersects Mulberry Street and College Avenue, near the Hewitt-Manchester dorms. WGLT spoke with some ISU students passing by the area, and many thought that these barriers were a step in the right direction to ISU improving campus safety.
“Its always good to have safety just in case someone walks by. People have headphones in, they're on their phones, so I think it's a good safety precaution just in case anything happens,” said commuting student Max Garcia.
He also said the barriers are a great addition, and that ISU has been doing a good job as far as keeping students safe and implementing precautions on campus to prioritize the well-being of students.
Having barriers like the ones placed outside of the dorm building is primarily to make sure no accidents occur with pedestrians.
Some students expressed gratitude for the barriers because they said driving in that intersection was quite confusing, while others expressed that they weren't so happy because the barriers block off certain directions they’d want to drive.
Student Ava Wagner said, “I live on Locust, it's kind of impractical. Especially right on this road, this three-way intersection.”
Sam Meyers, another ISU student, expressed frustration with her sorority house being on the other side of the barriers. She said that she has to always go around barriers as opposed to going straight through just because they're there.
“I do think overall, ISU is doing a good job keeping students safe. I usually feel pretty safe walking to class, and I think all of the crosswalks that I usually go to are safe," Meyers said.
This is one of many steps the Town of Normal and ISU plan to take in its efforts to make campus safer for students. Another example: The intersection of Broadway Avenue and Beaufort Street in Uptown Normal will soon become a 4-way stop.
