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rebeccmeisterToday, right as class started for the course I TA, one of my students was hit by a skateboarder. The skateboarder asked if she was okay, and she thought she was, so she said "yes" and he quickly disappeared into the throng of undergraduates. Then she tried to stand up and walk and discovered that she was most definitely NOT okay and that she was in excruciating pain.
I arrived shortly thereafter, and did what I could to help call for medical help, and stayed there as the fire truck arrived up until an ambulance appeared to take her to the hospital. There wasn't much to do, as there usually isn't in such cases, except to be there as she tried to deal with the pain.
It's hard to focus after something like that. At least, that's what I keep telling myself as I try to work on my proposal and struggle along.
And even though I'm guilty of it, it also makes me wish that campus police would crack down on people who recklessly traverse the campus. There are sections of campus where students are supposed to walk bicycles during busy periods, and the campus has gotten much more crowded over the past couple of years. So there's a need to be less oblivious and more careful.
It also makes me view the skateboarders differently, which is hard. I know a good number of skateboarders who love their sport, and it seems like fun and like a nice form of transportation. I'd also rather not set limits on where it is and isn't allowed, and accidents will always happen. But there are places where it's just not appropriate, just as it's inappropriate to ride a bicycle in some places.
I arrived shortly thereafter, and did what I could to help call for medical help, and stayed there as the fire truck arrived up until an ambulance appeared to take her to the hospital. There wasn't much to do, as there usually isn't in such cases, except to be there as she tried to deal with the pain.
It's hard to focus after something like that. At least, that's what I keep telling myself as I try to work on my proposal and struggle along.
And even though I'm guilty of it, it also makes me wish that campus police would crack down on people who recklessly traverse the campus. There are sections of campus where students are supposed to walk bicycles during busy periods, and the campus has gotten much more crowded over the past couple of years. So there's a need to be less oblivious and more careful.
It also makes me view the skateboarders differently, which is hard. I know a good number of skateboarders who love their sport, and it seems like fun and like a nice form of transportation. I'd also rather not set limits on where it is and isn't allowed, and accidents will always happen. But there are places where it's just not appropriate, just as it's inappropriate to ride a bicycle in some places.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-17 05:46 pm (UTC)We have the same skateboarder/cyclist problem on campus. During the busy hours there just isn't enough room for them on the sidewalks, but they zip through anyway.