Longwood Skate Krew Rolls onto Campus

By Joe Brown
Rotunda ReporterThe sounds are heard daily. The noise of wheels rolling down the sidewalk in front of Hiner and the screeches of power slides of the skateboards in front of the Ruffner Fountain are heard across campus. These students responsible for these echoes aren't just skaters anymore; they might be the future members of the newest club on campus.

Longwood's Student Government Association (SGA) recently approved the new "Skate Krew" on campus for students who have interests in skateboarding. The club allows fellow skateboarders to meet up and go skating together to find common interests in the sport.

"Some friends and I wanted to get together a skate club to form a unity with the skaters on campus," said sophomore founder Bryan West. "First, we had to write up a constitution in order to see the SGA. Then we partnered with Officer [Jim] Thorpe to see if we could be approved as a club while complying with university and authority rules," West said.

After a constitution was written, West went in front of the SGA to propose the new club to the school.

"I told them that the general view of skateboarders on campus isn't the best, but this club will help students know where to skate and how to do it in a safe, respectable manner," West said. "Members will take a pledge to skate on designated areas, be aware and respective of others and skate safely. All of this is simple and quite possible," West said.

Sophomore Eric Seum, a friend of West's and also a fellow founder, agrees. "The stereotype of skateboarders tends to be a bad one but hopefully this club will change that perspective," Seum said.

The club's first meetings will focus on proper locations of skateboarding on and around campus. Then they will move into focusing on proper safety education and proposing dates for full-club skateboard clinics.

The "Skate Krew" plans to skateboard at the public skate park located at Wilck's Lake Park on Third Street, just past the hospital on the left hand side over the bridge. This is Farmville's only skate park and is open from dawn to dusk. The park has numerous skateboarding obstacles including quarter pipes, grinding rails and ramps.

"We would like to hold clinics and demonstrations at the skate park and behind the Lankford Student Union. We want to help show our members and everyone how to safely interact with pedestrians on campus," Seum said.

The club would like to see about twenty members by the end of the fall semester, but has no set member list yet.

"I submitted an application to the Parents Council of Longwood through the Office of First Year Experience with the help of Stacey Wilkerson for club funding," West said. "If it's approved, we'll receive a grant for club equipment such as helmets, pads and first aid gear," West added.

The founders hope that the club might help change the feelings and negative stereotypes towards skateboarders around the Farmville community. One of the ultimate goals of the club is to eventually sit down with Farmville police and try to amend the town laws regarding skateboarding regulations. The current Farmville law towards skateboarding says that it is not allowed on any public street or sidewalk. The "Krew" hopes to eventually sit down with Famville officials in hopes of easing up on the laws in a safe and respectable manner.

Senior Brian Sowder feels that this goal can easily be met. "In such a small town, skateboarding can be a main way of transportation with students. I feel like it's an environmentally friendly way to get around," Sowder said.

Local and nationwide companies are interested in sponsoring the club as well. "I've talked to California Cheap Skates (CCS) and Farmville's local skate shop, 'Courage Skate Shop.' We would like to be sponsored by them to help with equipment and hopefully get some free stuff that we could advertise for them while skating," West said. Seum added, "Maybe the sponsorships could lead to more than safety gear. It'd be cool if we could get some stickers and customized decks or wheels."

The club will also help new students become friends and skate together. "It's an awesome way for the student body who skates to get together and socialize and become better friends," said junior Scott Hull. "It's an active way to get out and not just sit around all day. It's just a great way to unite the skateboarding community," Hull added.

"If all of the Skaters at Longwood can unite to be aware, safe and respectable while skating, the positive outcomes are limitless." West said.