Traffic, safety problems and a number of student complaints have caused the University Council to draw up changes for the DuSable turnaround – proving the university, at least this time, is listening to the students.

Among the solutions discussed at Wednesday’s meeting is a cul-de-sac by Gabel Hall, an expansion of the Chick Evans Field House parking lot and turn lanes at the Stadium Drive and Annie Glidden Road intersection and on Lucinda Avenue.

These changes obviously reflect that rerouting the bus turnaround and forbidding cars was not the best idea. No matter how much the university tries, it’s not going to stop people from dropping off students.

The turnaround was to ensure students’ safety and reduce traffic, but all it has done is move traffic into the fieldhouse parking lot. The Gabel Hall cul-de-sac, which should be completed by spring, will allow the cars to get in and out faster – and in a not-so-cluttered manner. That in itself is an accomplishment.

Wednesday’s discussion was a baby step; now all the council has to do is make sure these plans are followed through. This is not something that can be put off or allowed four years to finish.

Although the cul-de-sac construction and parking lot expansion will not be done in time to aid drivers during bad weather conditions, the university is making sure to finish one of its ideas in time for winter. At least three more bus shelters will be added to the turnaround to shelter waiting riders from snow and sleet. This is another good decision that probably should have been part of the original plan.

Even with all of these plans to reconstruct the turnaround, one of the council’s biggest concerns was students cutting across the newly planted grass. The solution? Put signs up to discourage students.

The problem? Signs just won’t work.

Then again, students wouldn’t need to cut across the grass if the pathways from building to building were a little more direct. It’s just one more example of something that could have been mastered the first time around.

The new turnaround indeed had good intentions. They just weren’t executed in the most efficient manner. But at least complaints are being heard and acted upon – something NIU hasn’t always been the best at.