By Precious Kenney
The Scene staff
Forest Park students and employees have complained to campus police and a nearby principal about high school students allegedly speeding and driving erratically through campus this semester.
Calvin Carson, a student, employee and director of communications for the Student Government Association, said he was almost hit by a vehicle about 3 p.m. Feb. 21, while walking along Highlander Drive and a grassy area between the street and the parking lot behind the automotive technology department.
“All of a sudden, three SUVs come flying through and I’m like, ‘Whoa!’” said Carson, 18. “So I get to a point where the sidewalk has ended, and I kind of have to be in the street, but it’s a one-way street, so you should be able to see me.
“The guy comes flying down in this black truck, and he swerves away from me at the last second. He’s flying through the parking lot.”
Carson noticed that the SUV passengers seemed younger than college-age students, and some were wearing hoodies from St. Louis University High School, which is east of the college on Oakland Avenue.
Commander Lt. David Berryman, who has worked at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park for nine years, said there has been an increase in the number of complaints about reckless driving and speeding on campus this semester.
“We have reason to believe that traffic is coming from St. Louis University High School on Wise (Avenue),” he said. “There’s a gate opening right behind the Science Center that we know that the high school students use to exit the campus.
“We have reason to believe they are trying to avoid the stoplight at Oakland and Macklind, coming down Wise, and coming across our campus to avoid our stoplight. This is just speculation, but we have strong reason to believe this is the case.”
After his near-accident, Carson sent an email to the Rev. Matthew Stewart, the SLU High School principal, warning that vehicles speeding through heavily congested parking lots on campus create a dangerous situation for pedestrians. He copied campus police and other Forest Park officials.
“The students engaging in this behavior are seriously endangering themselves by putting themselves at risk for serious bodily harm or injury for the sake of unsanctioned, senseless, personal competition,” Carson wrote. “These students, through their behavior, are also becoming increasingly liable for the potential destruction of private and personal property.”
The Scene reached out to SLU High School and talked to Dan Schulte, director of security. He said the school investigated Carson’s report.
“We couldn’t find who it might have been, but we have posted on-school personnel on Macklind Avenue on different days as our students are leaving on Wise (after school ends at 3:10 p.m.),” he said.
“We’ve talked to our swimming programs and water polo programs, which both utilize (the Forest Park pool), to reemphasize that any kind of reckless driving that we see that could be from them would be dealt with swiftly.”
Schulte said he also contacted St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, informed officers of the situation and asked if they could help out by providing more frequent patrols in the area.
“We do apologize,” he said. “We want to be good neighbors. … We’ve worked with (STLCC at Forest Park) in the past, and we will work with you in the future. We want to make sure that we give you the best neighbors that we can be and work together to eradicate these issues.”
Since receiving the complaints, Berryman said he has positioned campus police officers in patrol cars in the parking lot behind the automotive technology department to monitor traffic and stop drivers who are speeding.
Berryman also contacted Stewart about the problem.
“(The principal) said he was going to alert his faculty, staff and student body to let them know to be mindful of the driving habits of when they exit their campus and enter onto ours,” Berryman said. “Since I’ve had this communication with him, I haven’t heard of any additional complaints.”
STLCC is building a new transportation center on the Forest Park campus, closing portions of parking lots and forcing more vehicles to crowd the remaining lots and side streets.
In addition, the number of students on campus has increased since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Berryman cautions students, faculty and staff to be extra careful while walking between their vehicles and campus buildings. He also asks that people report any problems.
“Keep your head on a swivel,” he said.
“Our mantra here at STLCC is, ‘If you see something, say something.’ So, we encourage people to call the central dispatch at extension 5999. And if you are calling from a cellphone it’s (314-539-5999). Let us know what is going on.”