By Lori Bredemeyer, Copy Editor

The ACU Police Department has begun working with the city to put additional crosswalks on E.N. 16th Street and Campus Court and is considering adding more lighting in pedestrian areas.

Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU police, said the officers are working with the Abilene Police Department to monitor the campus.

“We’ve been trying to be much more proactive in warning students who are not yielding to pedestrians,” Ellison said. “We’re trying to communicate to students and drivers that motorists and pedestrians have responsibilities.”

These changes were jump-started last semester by a traffic accident that critically injured Allison Pool, senior interdisciplinary studies major from Colleyville. Pool’s fiance, Bob Booth, said Pool is recovering and healing at home.

“She’s anxious to get back to school,” he said, “and she’ll probably start back in the summer.”

Ellison said the city was aware of the accident and has since added more pedestrian crossing signs on E.N. 16th.

He also said the department has considered adding flashing lights to the pedestrian signs, like those at school crossings, but the project will be time-consuming and expensive.

Since last semester, Ellison said he has observed drivers being more careful.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that I’ve seen an improvement in driving safety around campus,” he said. “Being safe around campus takes everyone’s cooperation. It only takes a split second for another accident to occur.”

Ellison said sometime in the spring he would like to put a couple of signs around campus that post the speed as a vehicle drives by as a “visual reminder.”

“I’d rather have that kind of reminder than the reminder being another student critically injured.”