 "Photo: courtesy of Public Relations")
Student demand for Public Safety escorts is growing and has exceeded the number of requests made during the past academic year, according to UDaily.
James Flatley, director of Public Safety, said the service, which has been available for several years, is available after dark, seven days a week. If a situation calls for it, an escort can be provided during afternoon as well.
Public Safety recently hired additional student police aides due to an increase in demand for the service, Flately said. The aides are trained at the start of each semester and work collectively with the security staff to provide students, faculty and visitors of the university with a safe means of transportation.
The busiest nights of the week are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he said.
"We have two [aides] on duty Sunday through Wednesday," Flatley said. "There are four working, plus an additional student police aide dispatcher Thursday through Saturday."
He said the service will take you anywhere within one block of campus, but has recently extended out to the Towne Court Apartment complex.
Flatley said he believes that the murder of Lindsey Bonistall had a major impact on the recent growth of requests for escorts.
Junior Emily Rotstein recently attempted to use the service, but said she was so disappointed with their response that she opted to walk instead.
"They told me it was a very busy night and to go outside and wait," Rotstein said. "It would take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to pick me up."
When she asked if they could inform her when they got to the building they said they could not.
"I had no idea what I would be looking for," Rotstein said. "I finally said I would call later and hung up because I was so frustrated."
Flatley said his first priority is the safety of the students.
"The main concern is for the students' health and well being," he said.
Another issue concerning students is the risk of getting in trouble for underage drinking.
"It is not right for someone to be reported when they are trying to make it home safely," Rotstein said. "A better solution would be for Public Safety to not ask any questions and just bring people home safely."
Junior Magen McKinney, a student police aide, said her job involves driving around in a Public Safety van, picking up people and safely taking them where they need to go.
"We don't report them if they have been drinking unless they are really sick and we have to take them to Student Health [Center] or the hospital," she said.
Flatley said even if this was the case he would still encourage students to contact an escort.
"You may have to take responsibility for consuming alcohol while being under the legal age," Flatley explained. "But you would get medical treatment if necessary and you will arrive at your destination safely."
McKinney said the main goal of the Public Safety escort service is to get people to their destinations safely. The service is a free and safe way to get where you are going at night.
McKinney said all student escorts are required to take the names of people who call for the service. Many times students will make up names because they are afraid of getting in trouble.
"Sometimes kids will make up crazy names and it's obvious," she said. "We are really just there for their safety."
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