By: Hayden Kobza,
On Friday, Aug. 29, the Student Development Office at Southern Adventist University sent an email to the student body announcing significant policy changes requiring helmets when operating motorized scooters, longboards and bicycles, among other updates.
The two amendments were voted on by the Student Development Committee at the end of the Winter 2025 semester and in the summer. In addition to the amendments, there is a section about the university’s zero tolerance for hazing, which comes after the implementation of the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, requiring institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents.
In addition to wearing helmets, individuals riding motorized or electric scooters/longboards cannot use the promenade for such purposes Monday through Thursday, between 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Additionally, students who want to skate or bike are not allowed to ride inside buildings, slide on stairs, railings, curb edges, benches, walls, performing tricks or being pulled by a motorized or pedal vehicles. The devices cannot be left inside university buildings, and students must abide by all safety measures outlined in the owner’s manual. The amendment also introduces a speed limit.
On other sidewalks beside the Promenade, users of these devices must travel at no more than 10 miles per hour,” the release stated. “During inclement weather, when sidewalks are wet from rain or snow, the use of these devices are banned from all of campus. Parking of these devices may NOT occur in parking spaces, in buildings, or on lawns.”
The section ends with a statement—if the policy is broken, the consequence will result in a $200 fine.