2008 Woodie Awards
University Street will remain closed on weekends
British Loyde
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Some students say the University Street being blocked off on the weekend is an inconvenience.
Chief of police Mac McNeely said that he authorized the closing of University Street on the weekend.
The approval made by the city's traffic engineer was issued to secure the safety of students and control increased traffic problems, he said.
"It's limited 80 percent of traffic [problems]," said Mac McNeely.
Most of the traffic on the weekend is generated from the Whole Note Club located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, McNeely said. Cars used the street as a "thoroughfare" causing safety concerns, McNeely said.
But some students appreciate the closing of the street.
"I do think that it's helping," Kristopher Davis, a Memphis junior, said.
At first, Davis said he was upset about the street closing on the weekends. Other students were receptive to the changes after they were informed about student safety concerns.
Some UTC Place residents said campus police are not allowing students with a student ID to enter on to University Street in order to park on the street. Also, UTC Place residents complained that campus police have directed them not to socialize in front of the 3000 building.
"One Saturday, we were sitting … [near the UTC Place fountain] and they told us to go inside," Kandace Heard, a Memphis senior, said.
University Street will continue to close on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while school is in session, McNeely said.
During holidays, the street will remain open.
Chief of police Mac McNeely said that he authorized the closing of University Street on the weekend.
The approval made by the city's traffic engineer was issued to secure the safety of students and control increased traffic problems, he said.
"It's limited 80 percent of traffic [problems]," said Mac McNeely.
Most of the traffic on the weekend is generated from the Whole Note Club located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, McNeely said. Cars used the street as a "thoroughfare" causing safety concerns, McNeely said.
But some students appreciate the closing of the street.
"I do think that it's helping," Kristopher Davis, a Memphis junior, said.
At first, Davis said he was upset about the street closing on the weekends. Other students were receptive to the changes after they were informed about student safety concerns.
Some UTC Place residents said campus police are not allowing students with a student ID to enter on to University Street in order to park on the street. Also, UTC Place residents complained that campus police have directed them not to socialize in front of the 3000 building.
"One Saturday, we were sitting … [near the UTC Place fountain] and they told us to go inside," Kandace Heard, a Memphis senior, said.
University Street will continue to close on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while school is in session, McNeely said.
During holidays, the street will remain open.
