Scooters and student life
Harper Johnson scoots around Shimmels Park.
At Lee University, most students drive or walk to get around campus. But what about those seeking an alternative that saves gas money and shortens commute time?
Many students opt for a different mode of transportation—scooters. While some consider this choice risky or unusual, scooters have become a favored option for those who want to get to class quickly and avoid the daily struggle of searching for a parking spot.
Eli Cornett, a junior math major, president of the Symphonic Band, and dedicated math tutor, loves using his scooter.
“It’s faster than walking and gets me to class early. As a math major, I appreciate anything efficient,” Cornett said. “Scooters are much more convenient to store than a bike.”
Though Cornett enjoys using his scooter, he has been hurt while using it.
“One rainy day, I decided to ride my scooter down a hill. I turned, slipped and landed face-first, ending up with a massive black eye. Despite that, the positives of riding a scooter far outweigh the negatives,” Cornett said.
Many students share similar experiences. Opinions on scooters across campus are as diverse as the students themselves.
One example is freshman Sarah Hillard. Although she has ridden a scooter on campus, she prefers other options. Hillard said, “I find biking and walking more enjoyable than scootering, mainly because balancing on a scooter requires more skill than I would like to commit to.”
While Sarah is not the biggest fan, Gabriel Brooks is arguably the most enthusiastic scooter supporter on campus. A close friend of Eli Cornett and a senior, Brooks never misses a chance to ride his scooter.
“I used to borrow my best friend's scooter and ride it around campus throughout the day. Thanks to this habit, I earned the 'Scooter Boy' superlative, 'Most Likely to Steal a Scooter,' for both my sophomore and junior years in the Symphonic Band and tech crew,” Brooks said.
“I don’t mean to brag, but I'm pretty skilled when it comes to riding a scooter,” Brooks said.
Although he is known as the university’s most dedicated scooter rider, Brooks says there are drawbacks.
“A downside is that you start to rely on scooters too much. Unfortunately, I've definitely fallen into that habit,” Brooks said. “Whatever you do, don’t try to carry food or packages on a scooter. It won't end well.”
Despite the drawbacks, Brooks praises the positives of scooter life.
“Scooters really do get you places faster, and they’re perfect for recreating the ‘Titanic’ moment or giving a friend a ride across campus,” Brooks said.
One of the most cherished aspects of attending college is having more freedom. Freedom to craft one’s own class schedule. Freedom to choose a career path. Freedom to “scoot.”
Photos by Lesley Bryant.
