A newly drafted safety policy will allow the use of skateboards on campus, and also define the rules for snowboards and roller blades, pending approval from Chancellor Jones. New handrails with deterrent devices have also been installed by Facilities Services to prevent illegal usage.

"They're called Skate Stoppers," said Ed Foster, Superintendent of Operations at Facilities Services. "It's a deterrent for skateboarders, snowboarders, roller bladers; anybody sliding on the rails."

"What is deemed by skaters and bikers as 'creative expression' is costing you money," says the Skate Stoppers web site, whose slogan is, "Because signs are not enough!"

Foster had not heard about a new skateboarding policy.

"We're just a couple of university students having a good time after class," said a 25-year-old student who was dropping stairs by the Fine Arts Complex, and wished to remain nameless.

Police will not stop skateboarders unless they are damaging people or property, using benches, handrails, stairs, or curbs, or using any of the aforementioned modes of transportation inside a University building. The draft policy will allow for skateboarding "from point A to point B."

"Unless their behavior attracts the officers' attention," said Lt. Syrilyn Tong of the UAF Police Department. Before, the rules had been unclear and officers were unsure whether to allow skateboarding or to prevent it, which was more often the case as reflected in the police logs. Each week a number of skateboarding incidents are logged, sometimes with trespasses issued. If a "trespassed" individual were to return, they could face further disciplinary action.

Now, says Police Chief Terry Vrabec, officers have been told to leave the skaters alone. "As long as it's not causing a problem," he said. Chief Vrabec helped Terry Dowdy, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, write up the draft policy that first surfaced about a month ago and is still awaiting final approval.

"I've only been here a year, but I have not seen a policy on skateboards at all," said Dowdy, who came from the Florida State University system where skateboarding and inline skates are a main source of transportation from parking areas to the more centrally located buildings. "The universities are much larger, but the problems are much the same," said Dowdy, adding, "Here at UAF, the attitude is much better." Dowdy said he sought input from the Wood Center, Student Affairs, and that he and Chief Vrabec got the drafting process started.

"I'm not in the business to say, 'We can't have a good time,'" said Dowdy, "As long as we use a common sense approach." He had not heard about the newly installed deterrent handrails.

"Often times I'm not in the loop on some stuff," said Dowdy.

Though the policy is not final, Dowdy, Chief Vrabec and Don Foley of

Student Affairs have all signed off on it, and are confident that little will be changed in the single page document.

"I'm pretty confident that it's probably gonna fly through," said Dowdy. "There's a possibility there might be a change, but probably not much."

"Nothing will ever solve it," said Ed Foster on how the official policy would reduce the damage around campus, "it might reduce it."

Photo by Chris Cruthers/Sun Star
Keith Welfe, Clarke Schuyler and Ray Zimmer ride down Tanana Loop from Lookout Point, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004.

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