Pedestrians who cross Normal Road know there is a danger of being hit by moving cars.

Between the Holmes Student Center and Adams and Williston halls, there is a protected pedestrian crosswalk marked with white striped lines. University Police Lt. Ron Williams said traffic is supposed to yield to pedestrians crossing within these boundaries.

Williams said the problem lies in “the large influx of pedestrian traffic, especially after classes let out. People are crossing at all areas when they should only be crossing at the designated areas,” he said.

Patricia Perkins, assistant to the vice president for finance and planning agrees.

“People cross in places other than those areas and vehhicular traffic doesn’t always heed,” she said.

Perkins also said students should not have to shoulder all the blame. “It isn’t just students. It’s also faculty and staff members. People always point the finger at students and I think everyone is guilty of it,” she said.

There also is some concern that motorists do not know what the protected area means and fail to yield to pedestrians even when walkers are in the crosswalk.

“It is a matter of education,” Perkins said. “We need to minimize the conflict for the safety of the campus community. No one wants a tragedy,” she said.