Kirkwood hockey is a club sport, meaning the administration does not have the legal authority to get involved with students conduct at the games. This does not mean, however, the administration should turn their backs and have Kirkwood represented in such a bad way.

The lack of consistency coming from the administration is appalling. They acknowledge this student group, allowing players to appear on the KHS announcements, giving them the platform to promote upcoming games and talk about wins. The administration wants to recognize the players, though they have drawn the line at weighing in on, much less dealing with behavior at games.

Shout’s at games include: “Hail Kirkwood, Hail Kirkwood, Hail Kirkwood, Hail (opposing team), H@*! no!” “Quack me off!” and “Goalie, Goalie, Goalie, you suck!” If the cheers shouted are not bad enough, the vulgar language is some that most kids would dare not say in their own house.

While KHS students shout their enthusiasm, all everyone hears are vulgar cheers that bash the opposing team. On the ice sportsmanship prevails, but in the bleachers sportsmanship does not exist.

In fact, the inappropriate behavior begins prior to the game for some fans as they get high and drunk then go to the game, according to one varsity hockey player.

At the games, as the time is ticking on the scoreboard, students count down, not to the last second, but to 4 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, this otherwise known as National Smokers’ Day, or April 20 (4/20).

The issue of hockey game conduct has been a problem for more than eight years now, according to one hockey parent. Everyone always talks about how bad it is, but no one has ever done anything about it.

Hockey fans’ behavior should be upheld to the same standards as KHS students. They represent the school, and should have the same rules and standards as a school sponsored sport would have.

And the administration agrees. More than one administrator said the behavior should not be tolerated club sport or not.

And when bearing the colors of Kirkwood, whoever you are, you should fall under the same rules as the administration.

The administration needs to step up and take action. If the administrators cannot enforce standards, a police officer needs to supervise the games. At school, a word needs to be said about the poor conduct at the games. Discussion among the students and the administration should be started. The administration needs to find the line that does not involve leaving a handful of kids cheering for things kids should not really be cheering about.

A stop sign is not adequate for this intersection.  A sign might be helpful except this intersection is a four-way stop, at an angle, creating several blind spots when driving or walking. What this intersection needs is an electric signal.

Essex is a true east-west thoroughfare, yet Geyer veers from south to northwest at the intersection.  Because the intersection is not a perfect cross, it is more difficult for a pedestrian or a driver to see a vehicles time of arrival at  the other three directions of the intersection.

Above, Lexi Ives, Kirkwood resident, walks home with her younger brother after Keysor Elementary School was dismissed. "It is a little dangerous," Ives said about the intersection.

Kirkwood Police officer Jim Cox said electric signals are not usually put in areas with a close proximity to homes.  However, the three-way intersection of Quan and Woodlawn, which operates during the school year, has an electric signal and is surrounded by homes.  Not only is Quan and Woodlawn a three-way and not four-way intersection, but it’s also perfectly north, south, west.  No angles. No blind spots.  Essex and Geyer is a four-way intersection and not a perfect cross.

The reason there is an electric signal and walking signal at the Quan and Woodlawn intersection is because younger elementary kids that walk to school, said Cox.

However, a short way down Geyer road is Keyser Elementary school and for many of the elementary students, crossing through the intersection is how they get to and from school.

John Schumer, who has been a Keyser crossing guard for four years said the intersection is too dangerous and would be better off and safer with an electric signal.

According to City of Kirkwood Council Member Gina Jaksetic, if an electric signal were put at the intersection of Essex and Geyer, the proposal would have to go through a group in Kirkwood called the Traffic and Safety Committee. The committee would evaluate traffic flow and accident rates in the area. Kirkwood citizens who want changes would have to make recommendations and requests to the City of Kirkwood, Jaksetic said.

An electric signal at this four-way intersection would be beneficial for all.  It would benefit drivers by taking the guesswork out of when to proceed.  It would also be safer for pedestrians, including elementary students, as they would have a signal indicating when to “walk.”   The City of Kirkwood would be doing their citizens a favor by putting an electric signal at the intersection of Essex and Geyer.