Dear Editor,
A considerable disadvantage of dismantling the Scramble Light involves the needs of students with disabilities, particularly those who are visually impaired. With the auditory traffic stopper, visually impaired students can move independently from one side of the campus to the other. Disposing of the chirping would seem to have substantial impact on accessibility.
On the point of allowing students to cross parallel to traffic, the casual observer can see that students already do this. Cars turning right or left invariably wait patiently for these students; I rarely hear an impatient honk. In other words, students generally do not stand and wait for chirping if they are not crossing diagonally, so the argument that dismantling the Scramble Light will save students time does not hold.
Furthermore, if the Scramble Light is dismantled, thereby preventing students from crossing diagonally, pedestrians will be more likely to cross the street farther down on McKinley by standing precariously in the median as cars whiz past on either side. Cars will be whizzing by at a much more frequent pace if they are stopped for red lights less often.
The plan to dismantle the Scramble Light seems to have many advantages for drivers, who may or may not be affiliated with Ball State, and few advantages for students.
Jennifer Haley
graduate student
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