Blocked routes around campus frustrate students

Blocked routes around campus frustrate students

Congestion, traffic bottleneck students at construction
sites

By Ben Gilmore

Tony McClane is a marketing representative working on Bruin Walk
who has been to many schools. He has never seen anything like
UCLA.

"This is the worst I’ve seen, and I’ve been to Long Beach, Cal,
and many other places," McClane said.

McClane is talking about a growing plague on the UCLA campus:
congestion and overcrowding. With many areas of the campus under
construction, students are packed together more tightly than ever,
and many are beginning to feel more like rodents than students.

Graduate student Robert Schwartz described the atmosphere on
Bruin Walk: "Walking down Bruin Walk is like being in a rat race
with 5,000 rats doped up on a six-pack of Jolt Cola after watching
‘Beavis and Butt-head.’"

But congestion is nothing new, according to some students.

"It was just as bad last year," sophomore Lisa Aaron said. "I
think people are just noticing it more this year."

Third year student Henry Mendez had a different opinion.

"There’s no question it’s worse than last year," Mendez said.
"Last year I could breathe on campus. I think someone at the top
screwed up and let too many people in."

At Ackerman Union ­ which some students compare to a rat
maze ­ construction on the B-level has funnelled people
entering the level from outside onto a single narrow walkway. With
construction workers adding to the congestion, the walkway has been
especially crowded.

Peter Kim, an ASUCLA employee who has been working in the area,
said he’s seen the congestion making students tense.

"It’s real crowded," Kim explained. "Sometimes we have to
transport big items across the walkway which get in the way.
Students get really pissed."

For those walking up Circle Drive by the Math Sciences building,
traffic jams have reached epic proportions as students traveling up
and down the sidewalk often find themselves at a standstill.

"I wish people would just get out of the way," third year
philosophy student Nathan Hunt said.

The northern end of campus has not escaped construction either.
Royce Hall ­ arguably UCLA’s most picturesque building ­
is also under renovation. Much of the quad’s grassy area has been
fenced off as well.

Seeing the quad’s buildings under construction has lowered
morale and has made the congestion even harder to deal with, said
some students.

"I don’t like seeing Royce Hall under construction," fifth-year
neuroscience student Kelly Weddel said. "I notice a big difference
with all the construction this year. It’s a shame we can’t enjoy
our beautiful campus this year."