Campus would not benefit from ban on skateboarding

Editor,

Last Friday, I was skateboarding past the Duck Pond on the way to learn in Dane Smith Hall when a UNM faculty member entered my path. I called out three times in a row to fellow pedestrians, "I'm coming up on the right." I was, at all costs, trying to prevent an accident. While most pedestrians strayed left, one man walked right, and another, James Burbank, walked left, off the grass and onto the concrete.

I apologize to Burbank, who wrote a letter addressing this incident in Monday's Daily Lobo, as this event may have been a simple misunderstanding. However, I feel I was insulted and degraded for the accident, leading to my offensive behavior. Again, I normally don't act like this, and I tend to respect fellow pedestrians.

I once considered University authorities wise judges of society and its amazing diversity. I feel that skateboarding and its culture should have their place on campus with everything else that coexists. I feel that banning skateboarding would be a downfall for UNM and an unappealing aspect of attending the University. Skateboarding makes school more appealing to me. It gives me, and others, incentive to go to class every day. These magnificent vehicles also cut time by more than half, therefore helping me and other slow-paced people make it to class on time without causing disruption.

Finally, preventive measures could be taken to ensure the safety of skaters, students and faculty alike. UNM could invest in bike and skate paths or fix all the holes and bumps in the concrete. UNM's concrete outlay is already skater- and safety-unfriendly.

If a skateboard ban is ever taken into consideration by the UNM administration, I ask it to please be open-minded and help preserve the amazing energy that skateboarding encompasses. I believe preserving the sport would greatly benefit the University and appeal to eager students for centuries to come.

Mike Smiel

UNM student