TO THE EDITOR:
Students walk across campus everyday. Thus the student voice should naturally be one of the top concerns of the Board of Trustees as they make the decision about the pedestrian bridge. It is offensive to think otherwise.
As a student I may not be an expert on estimating construction costs. However, I do know the difference between unnecessary and necessary spending, as do 9 out of 10 UNC students. I would hope the project is not under consideration solely for the purpose of appeasing impatient alumni crossing South Road a dozen times during football season to get to their luxury boxes.
The proposed pedestrian bridge would have the opposite effect of calming traffic; it would create a high-speed road in the middle of campus difficult for pedestrians to cross at any other point. Automobiles, not students and campus visitors, are favored in this model. Maintaining walkability and a pedestrian-oriented environment is essential to preserving the atmosphere of our cherished campus. I ask the Board of Trustees to not turn my school into highway and to veto the proposed pedestrian bridge.
Caroline Donaldson
Class of 2011
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