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Escort Service problems due to poor planning

To the editor,

In regards to the article on the status of the Escort Service in Thursday's Wildcat, I would like to clarify some points that were not discussed: The Escort Service is not losing money because of heightened awareness nor because of an increase in customers. Its downfall is due to poor planning and little else. In Thursday's article it is stated that within the last day 25 days an average of 158 people were served each night, and that the average at this time last year was only 105 each night. As a former employee of the Escort Service, I know that a difference of 50 people is not much difference at all and, in fact, during peak times in the year we were used to serving up to 300 people per night! It is also stated that "when we used the shuttle on a regular basis, it broke down every three days," but it is also stated that "the 35-person shuttle is only used when handicap customers request it." There were never nightly requests for handicapped services before the shuttle, but now it seems that there are.

The article states that when the shuttle is down, customer capacity drops from 45 to 19 people at a time. It also states that "the Escort Service utilizes two golf-carts, a minivan and up to two rental cars." Before the shuttle was active, the Escort Service utilized two 15-passenger vans, a 9-passenger minivan and two golf carts. That brings the total up to 45 people at a time without a shuttle, making the cars of little use.

The decision last year was to do away with using 15-passenger vans and start using cars and the shuttle at all times. The article states that "the increased volume of customers has caused a need for more vehicles" and that "the current vehicles have felt the burden of overuse". On top of that, the vehicles have been misused and abused by drivers who take them over curbs, way over speed limits, and have been known to frequently crash them into trash cans and other such objects.

Perhaps if the drivers respected the vehicles, they would not have to repair them more often. It may also be recommended that the 15-passenger van be used instead of the coveted cars.

Finally, the end of the Thursday's article states that ASUA "has been stingy when it comes to giving us funding". Employees of the Escort Service have been informed in the past of which ASUA candidates to support in order to gain the most funding. Since this is such a strong policy to follow, one must wonder where the funding went that ASUA so "stingily" handed over after gaining so much support.

Tiffany Collier

Psychology junior