Opinion > April 24, 2008

By | This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.

As students of this university, we feel betrayed by the access denied us to our own quad by the administration.

A quad for any college is the meeting point for all social activity, the central spot. The quad is a place for students to relax under a tree, throw Frisbee with friends, read a book or just enjoy the feel of grass under our toes. Ours has been blockaded by a yellow rope that is neither useful nor attractive. What’s more is that it seems that it has been roped off just as the weather began getting nice in the early springtime months — it was completely open during the cold and barren winter months when the attraction simply was not there. It’s like we’re being teased. What’s more is that the people in charge must know that it’s not great for the university’s public image, having yellow rope surrounding the main quad: we all noticed how the rope was mysteriously and coincidentally taken down at the same time news cameras showed up for Hillary’s appearance. What do all of the prospective students visiting the campus every day think?

Ok, yes, we like to have a quad that looks nice for graduation. We like healthy grass and growing flowers, etc., but there must be some compromise that’s been overlooked here.

How about only roping off the quad after it rains so that it doesn’t turn muddy? How about planning major digging undertakings for the winter months instead of when the grass is just starting to come up? Besides, does it really take an entire spring semester to grow some grass? Just give us our quad back, please.