I would like to thank Amanda Smith for her insightful observation that the university should warn students not to cross the flooded, frozen Red Cedar (“Block off flooded paths on campus,” SN 2/13).

But here is a better suggestion: use common sense. Don’t walk on a frozen river that has swelled above its normal capacity. I should think that students, as well as anyone who walks erect, are capable of deciding whether or not to walk across thin ice.

The part that gets me is that Smith seems surprised that she fell through the ice. And, to top it off, she put the blame not on her own bad judgment, but on the university. I think there comes a time when you have to realize “I did something stupid and there is no one to blame but myself.”

The fact is, the majority of the paths on campus are blocked off, but regardless, there is ice and water on them. That is, for most people, all the indication they need not to walk any farther.

Finally, about the E. coli issue, I am sure that until her suggestion university officials had not thought that they should bring down the E. coli levels. I am sure they have been sitting around wondering “Hmmm