By The Collegiate Staff
As students arrived on campus on Feb. 22, they saw Grand Rapids Police stationed around Ramp A’s Fountain Street entrance, police tape blocking sections of the ramp and metal gates pulled down at a number of ramp exits, preventing students and staff from exiting or entering the ramps. While many were confused, WZZM 13 reports that Vice President Kamala Harris will make an appearance Thursday at Fountain Street Church as a part of her “Fight For Reproductive Freedoms” tour.
GRCC sent an email to students and staff on Feb. 20 stating that the Fountain Street Ramp A entrance would be closed. The email directed students and staff to use the entrance at the top of the ramp off Ransom Avenue. No mention of the vice president’s visit was included in the email.
Erin Muratovic, 21, of Kentwood, was confused about the traffic and cop presence due to the lack of communication.
“It was really frustrating that one entrance was already shut down but the constant presence of police officers made me a bit nervous,” Muratovic said. “I had no idea why it was shut down until you informed me.”
Leutrim Sahitolli, 19, of Grand Rapids, didn’t understand why the college did not publicize that Harris was visiting Grand Rapids.
“It felt a little bizarre getting into campus because of the traffic and some roads being shut down,” Sahitolli said. “The fact that students don’t know why and GRCC has not informed their students about Harris’ appearance is concerning.”
Kylie Yoder, 20 of Rockford, was excited about the free parking but didn’t realize that there weren’t going to be many parking spaces.
“I got super excited that I didn’t have to scan my card, I was like oh free parking, then I realized that there were no spots and that was stressful,” Yoder said.
GRCC Communications staff couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday morning.
Alexa Cheaney, Payton Calati, Blace Carpenter and Pierson VanGorp contributed to this story
