 "Photo: Special to The Prospector / Tess Hall")
When thinking of people who skateboard, one has a tendency to visualize unwashed people with irresponsible attitudes and contradictory behavior.
This is an image that education professor William Robertson and electrical engineering senior Christopher Bobino want to shatter.
Robertson and Bobino created the Rongly, Indicted and Distinguished Emotions group with the idea of educating people about skateboarding. They also aim to change the way UTEP officials feel about students who ride around campus.
“A main goal of the club, which is an official UTEP student organization, is to change the policy on campus as it relates to the use of skateboards, in-line skates and all other skate influenced activities,” Robertson said.
“The group seeks to define a difference between skateboarding as a means of transportation, which could be defined as useful, and using something as a way of endangering oneself or others, which could be defined as harmful.”
Beginning with a few members, the RIDE group was made official in December 2009. The group was initiated by Robertson, also known as Dr. Skateboard.
“I skate, help promote safe skating, and I represent one of the many voices who are challenging the administration to change the skateboarding policy on campus.
I also speak to numerous people who believe the negative stereotypes associated with skateboarders,” said Tess Hall, freshmen pre college health student and member of the group. “As proven by RIDE, not all skateboarders are trouble-causing rascals, but rather men and women who simply love to skate.”
When together, the group discusses projects and stresses the importance of challenging the status quo.
“When we meet, we discuss ideas and plans for further ways to serve the UTEP community as well as get more people on campus involved,” Robertson said. “Of course, a big part of our meetings are to go riding and we try and scheduled our meetings so that we can also enjoy time riding our boards at the great parks in El Paso.”
Art is a big component of the group as exhibitions have risen from it to promote the creative flow of skateboarding students.
“On May 12, we will have a skate deck art show at Black Market. People from our club will present their work and expose their talent,” Hall said.
The RIDE group also takes part in philanthropies in the area of El Paso.
“The group participated in the first annual UTEP MOVE (Miner Opportunities for Volunteer Experiences) Volunteer Day Feb. 27 a community service activity in which the group cleaned up three local skate parks. The UTEP Project MOVE Program provides students, faculty and staff with an opportunity to serve the needs in the El Paso community,” Robertson said.
With the group gaining more and more notoriety, the expectations arise in terms of future plans.
“Hopefully, the club will be able to travel so we can spread our mission to far away towns and make a positive difference in their neighborhoods as well,” Hall said.
When asked about the description of the impact that the Rongly Indicted and Distinguished Emotions society can have on the UTEP student body, Bobino chose to describe it with these words, “We don’t set limitations, which is why our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Stephania Lara may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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