The concerned voices of students afraid to walk alone at campus on night finally were heard this year by the University. In August, SIUC created an escort service called Saluki Safe, a joint effort by SIUC Police, Student Affairs and Saluki Volunteer Corps.

But since its inception in August, a mere nine students have utilized Saluki Safe. The University has tried to answer students’ complaints about safety with this program, but no one seems willing to use it.

Year after year, students complain about safety on campus. In 1996, there were 24 cases of assault reported to SIUC Police. Police reports in local newspapers typically list assault or battery among the reported crimes.

Advertisement

It is unfortunate that only nine students have utilized such a beneficial service, especially when it is funded by a yearly student safety fee.

It took five years to implement the program. Now the University needs to examine how to increase use of Saluki Safe.

Perhaps posting more fliers around campus would improve student use of the program. Because the service is not readily seen, posting these signs with the Saluki Safe phone number near the exits of campus buildings would increase usage.

Maybe it is students’ egos that prevent them from using the service. Students may say I can handle myself or Those services are just for women because they do not feel the need for such a service.

It is disheartening that some people would rather take risks than to admit they might need some assistance.

With the arrival of autumn, nightfall will come more quickly and many students who had the luxury of late-evening daylight in which to walk home may now find themselves wandering in the dark, alone. Saluki Safe provides an effective way to ensure students a safe trip to the dormitories, a night class or anywhere they may need to go on-campus.

If students do not begin to use the service, the University should seriously consider disbanding the operation. Why make people sit around on volunteer time with nothing to do? It would be a shame to cancel an inexpensive service, but why continue something students do not bother to use? It just would not make sense to keep the operation functioning.

Advertisement*

With Saluki Safe, which is available to all students for escort to on-campus buildings, and the Women’s Night Safety Transit Service both readily available for students there is no reason why students should endanger themselves when trying to cross campus.

Utilizing these services could reduce the number of assaults this year by removing the predator’s target. Both men and women should take advantage of the service and avoid the possibility of becoming an unnecessary victim to crime or violence.