ACU installed black bollards outside the Campus Center to create a safer environment and community for its students. The goal is to foster a safe outdoor community and to block cars and work trucks that go in and out of the small space.

Kelly Young, chief financial advisor said, “We want to turn the area all the way around the campus center into something that is more of an outdoor community.”

The pillars block cars so that the staff who work the grounds can be more efficient in their work.

The black bollards were installed within a day or two after ordering them a few months ago.

Cody Singleton, senior management major from Lampasas, works for ACU’s grounds team.

“The design purpose of those pillars is to stop delivery trucks from driving through the highly trafficked area,” Singleton said. “They measured them so that we could still drive through the space since we need to work there.”

The black pillars make it impossible for cars to drive through, allowing the grounds team’s Gator utility vehicles to pass, but the loss of the open space is bittersweet for some.

“For our guys, yes, but for me hauling trailers, no. I have to go around now,” Singleton said.

ACU has no plans to build more of these pillars in other areas. This was an area where student safety was of the most concern.

To go along with the bollards there are a few other improvements around campus.

“We put up additional lighting on the streets by the athletic fields,” Young said, “and public safety added cameras around the residence halls this summer.”