Maggie Flanagan | News and Sports Editor | mflanagan6@mail.smcvt.edu
Three weeks ago, a cat belonging to a refugee family living in the 100s townhouses was hit by a speeding driver and killed. The driver did not stop.
Tom Goodmann, a resident in the 100s, was out walking his dog and witnessed the hit-and-run.
“The cat bolted into the parking lot just as a vehicle came along,” said Goodmann. “There was an audible thunk, and they drove off. There was a young student who picked up the cat and took her to the family.
“The vehicle was a gray SUV with a number of young people in it. The car was going 25 miles an hour at least, and that’s what I see generally, is that people are going mid 20s, maybe even a bit faster.
“It was a hard thing to watch. One thing I have observed, and it’s true on probably every college campus, is people drive too fast.”
The Defender counted a total of three 15 mph speed limit signs on campus.
“I’ve never seen them, they’re kind of in an area where it’s irrelevant,” said Goodmann. “I think they need to be in an area where students are speeding, which is near the 100s and the 200s.”
Jeff Favreau, the head of St. Michael’s College Public Safety, said he was unsure of the number of speed limit signs on campus.
Favreau was also unaware of the hit-and-run until the Defender brought it to his attention.
“I don’t have any other details besides that,” said Favreau. “I don’t think it was ever reported to public safety. We would definitely do any follow up that would be needed for that if the owners of the cat wanted that.”
St. Michael’s College public safety officers can only observe and report speeding and reckless driving; they do not have the ability to administer a ticket or pull someone over like the Colchester Police Department, said Favreau.
“We’re non-sworn,” said Favreau, “We’re not police officers. We’re employed by the college, basically like private security.
“We can take a plate and pass it along to Colchester police so they can maybe follow up if it [speeding] becomes a habitual issue.”
This academic year there have been four reported incidents of unsafe driving on campus. If a public safety officer sees someone driving unsafely they can issue a careless negligence fine, which is $75, said Jennifer Corrigan-Drury, the Public Safety operations manager.
15 mile per hour speed limit sign by the main entrance.
Last academic year, from September 2023 to May 2024, there were 11 incidents: eight for careless/negligent operation, one for excessive speed, one for a stop sign violation, and one that was an assist to Colchester PD for a DUI.
“If Colchester police ever wanted to, you know, sit on campus, we’re in their town,” said Favreau.
Student Hanna McGowan, ’26, pointed out that speeding is common near the suites, like Cronogue, and the 200s.
“It was dark outside, I waited and looked both ways,” said McGowan. “I crossed and the next second, there’s a car just flying towards me at like 25 miles an hour, and they didn’t even stop until the very last second.”
The lack of visible speed limit signs raises a concern for pedestrian safety on campus.
“I’m really not sure where any of the speed limit signs on our campus are, and I think that they should be enforced more,” said McGowan.
“As of right now, we just don’t have a way to enforce speeding and or prove it,” said Corrigan-Drury.
“A lot of the interactions I have, the students don’t even know the posted speed limit,” said Jacob Giroux, Public Safety officer.
Favreau, Corrigan-Drury, and Giroux recognize the need for stronger measures. There was a light-up speed monitor sign on Route 15, but it has been taken down to be put in a better location, said Faverau.
“We’re just kind of evaluating where on campus the best place to reinstall it will be,” said Favreau.
“That speed monitor will help if we do see someone who’s clearly going over 15 on campus,” said Corrigan-Drury.
The students don’t even know the posted speed limit
For now, the three-speed limit signs are the only measures on campus to reduce speeding.
“If anybody sees unsafe operation or speeding or anything happening on campus, they can call into switchboard, which is run out of my office,” said Favreau. “One of our officers would be dispatched to that area.”
“I’m all for speed bumps,” said Corrigan-Drury. “I think I would highly push for those because we do have a lot of kids on campus now, not just college kids, but, children and families.”
Goodman said it would be helpful for the areas with lots of children and pedestrians to have more visible signage, such as speed limit signs and “children at play” warnings, which could help prevent such accidents in the future.
“It’s been a special treat to live near these families and these kids, which we see every day,” said Goodmann. “They’re really a delight.”
“They all were very devoted to the cat, and they were very upset, especially the slightly older kids.”
The death of the cat is very unfortunate, said Giroux. Favreau advises all drivers to be aware and considerate of others.