Students starting classes this year will surely notice a lot of changes on campus. One of the biggest changes at Arkansas Tech is the pedestrian gates that were installed over the summer. These gates were closed on Aug. 1 and will now be closed 24 hours a day. The Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees approved the installation of the gates during its April meeting.

Susie Nicholson, vice president for student services, said that the gates have been under discussion for a few years because of incidents of students being hit in crosswalks.

She also said, “we want to encourage pedestrian activity… it seemed like a natural thing to make those safe areas.”

Nicholson said the gates were open on freshman move in day and that there is discussion about opening the gates on other high traffic dates, such as graduation. The only reactions she has heard have been students questioning why the gates are not open at night.

“We just felt like it would be too confusing,” to have the gates open and closed during selected hours, rather than 24 hours a day, she said.

Students around the campus have varied opinions on the gates.

Roger Norman, senior political science and history major from Benton has a positive opinion on the gates. Norman, Tech’s student government association president said, "The pedestrian gates on the campus have vastly increased safety across the University campus. The gates have really opened up the campus, and provided students with optimal access to all parts of the campus without inhibition."

Olivia Kidwell, junior graphic design major from Alma, said felt differently about the gates.

"Although the gates might provide more safety in secluded parts of the campus, they have really caused a traffic problem on the outer roads," she said.

"The crosswalks by the commons, Doc Bryan and Rothwell are now constantly bombarded by cars. Not to mention it's almost impossible to get out of the parking lot during the busiest hours," Kidwell added.

The three gates are located in areas that were viewed as the most high traffic pedestrian areas.

The first gate is located at the intersection of West Q Street and North El Paso Avenue in front of the library.

The intersection of West Q Street and North Boulder Avenue between Norman Hall and Corley Hall is also a location of a gate. The last gate is located on North Boulder Avenue between McEver Hall and the Doc Bryan Student Services building.