A petition to add an additional crosswalk on Thurstin Avenue was announced by the Undergraduate Student Government on Monday, Nov. 7. 

If implemented, the crosswalk will run between East Court and Pike Street from Lot E to the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

“Crosswalks have been pursued by USG in the past,” USG Director of Safety and Well-Being Carly Hitchcock said. “I’m trying to focus on the safety of our students and prioritize it.”

The Graduate Student Senate passed a resolution a few years ago to implement more crosswalks. Hitchcock, who started the petition, said this initiative was a more specific approach to the issue GSS already addressed.

“GSS wanted to add more crosswalks to Thurstin Avenue in general,” Hitchcock said.

At the beginning of the school year, Lot E was split for half commuter and half for staff and faculty. Since then, people have been jaywalking across the street from Lot E to the Union instead of using either of the crosswalks on East Court or Ridge Street.

The addition of the crosswalk would allow them to do so safely and legally, while making drivers more cautious of pedestrians. 

At least 300 signatures are needed before she can set up a meeting with campus administrations to discuss next steps. 

“We want to show them we want a crosswalk and for progress to be made,” she said.

The petition, which has been live since Nov. 7, had 35 signatures added to the petition as of Tuesday, Nov. 15. It can be signed on change.org, and Hitchcock urges students to sign with their BGSU emails.

“I encourage students to use their voice and sign the petition if they want to see change on campus,” she said. “We are a community and we should care about each other’s safety.”