March Newsletter

At the USS Senate Meeting on March 18, 2025, guest speakers Mike Dunn, a Planning Engineer from VT Facilities Engineering Services, and Mac Babb, Chief of Police at VTPD, discussed campus crosswalk safety and potential improvements. Dunn highlighted key locations, such as Southgate Dr, West Campus Dr, and Kent St, where solar-powered blinking crosswalk signs could enhance pedestrian safety. He explained that these continuously blinking lights are cost-effective and portable, allowing for future relocation based on accident data. Babb provided an overview of campus crash data, noting that while no specific area stood out as particularly high-risk, pedestrian accidents have occurred near West Campus Drive and Owens Access Drive. He also mentioned that VTPD is exploring a potential grant with VDOT to fund safety improvements. Both speakers emphasized the importance of balancing cost, effectiveness, and long-term impact when implementing traffic safety measures.

Menah Pratt, Vice President for Inclusive Strategy and Excellence, spoke passionately about the Virginia Tech Principles of Community, emphasizing their importance in shaping the university's identity. She traced their origins back to a significant social movement in 2003, which highlighted the need for inclusivity and respect within the university community. Pratt underscored how these principles were developed as a response to the growing desire for a more equitable and welcoming environment at Virginia Tech. She highlighted the ongoing commitment of the university to ensure these principles are not just words on paper, but a living, evolving part of the culture. Pratt encouraged everyone, students, faculty, staff, and alumni, to continue engaging with these principles, making them an integral part of their daily lives and interactions. She stressed that it is through collective effort and dedication to these values that Virginia Tech can truly create an inclusive community where every individual feels valued and empowered. Pratt called for continued reflection and action to ensure these principles remain at the heart of Virginia Tech’s mission and vision for the future.