Friday's article, ("#isthisreallife", Jan. 28), was an incredible embarrassment to me as a Notre Dame student. I am amazed that such a simple thing as shoveling the tiny amount of sidewalk associated with one's house could be such a big deal. Furthermore, the self-centeredness shown in the article is astounding.
The city ordinance that requires snow removal within 24 hours is not because the residents of South Bend do not know how often to shovel their sidewalks, nor is it so that people can take "leisurely strolls" around town. It is a safety issue which is meant to protect both residents and the men and women who deliver mail to the people of the South Bend community. Snow that is not cleared from sidewalks will melt during the day and refreeze at night, quickly forming a layer of ice if left for even a couple of days. Here under the South Bend permacloud, lake-effect weather makes snow even more prone to turn into ice.
It is time that people wake up from the illusion that the city of South Bend is here to serve the students of Notre Dame. When you live off-campus, you are a part of the South Bend community. Although enforcing this ordinance in South Bend may be recent, most cities in America that regularly get snow have an ordinance like this (including West Lafayette, where Boilermakers who live off-campus have only six hours to clear their sidewalks). Maybe the next time you want to go to Club Fever, you should spend the ten minutes it takes to shovel your sidewalk and think about what it means to be a contributing member of society instead.
Robert Ring
Sophomore
Siegfried Hall
Jan. 30
