By Melissa Prentice
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The ASUA Escort Service is off to a slow start, but volunteers expect more business than they can handle.
The service, which provides a safe ride to and from campus and near- campus areas, picked up 12 students during its first night of operation Wednesday, said Tim Walker, a service volunteer. The Escort Service operates Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Director Greg Gemson said in the past about 50-75 students, mostly women, have used the service each night.
Walker said he believes the number will increase again as more students realize the service is available.
"For our first night, the numbers were about average. So far, it's (manageable), but my opinion is that in a few weeks it won't be anymore," Walker said.
Most students don't know the service is available, Walker said, adding that Escort Service volunteers would like to stress the importance of calling the service rather than walking alone on campus.
"The issue of campus safety is especially relevant since the disappearance of an Arizona State University student," he said. ASU senior Kimberly Nilson, 24, was last seen by her roommate the morning of Aug. 22 and police still have no suspects in her disappearance, according to ASU's State Press.
The Escort Service distributed flyers informing students that the service is now available and plans to continue advertising by word of mouth and in the newspaper, Walker said.
He said the service is in the process of purchasing a second van to help deal with the expected increase of students requesting rides and also plans to continue recruiting volunteers for various shifts.
Almost 30 students currently volunteer for the service, but the late shifts on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings are still understaffed, he said.
The service postponed its starting date in order to recruit and train volunteers, Walker said. Volunteers are taught how to drive the van, how to get around campus, what areas the program services and how to use the phones and radios, he said.
Walker said he is aware that at least a few students called to request a ride before the service began operation.
The service is now fully operational to pick up students and take them to any on-campus location, as well as near-campus areas such as the fraternity and sorority houses near the medical center and other near-campus housing between Campbell Avenue and Euclid Avenue and Grant Road and Seventh Street, Walker said.
Usually a driver is available to pick up someone who requests a ride almost immediately, unless the service receives several calls at the same time, Walker said. "We always try to get there as soon as possible. Usually someone is available in two or three minutes since a van is usually driving around campus, waiting until we tell them on the radio where to pick someone up."
Gemson said the service will be able to respond to calls quicker this year, since it moved from the Parking and Transportation building to a more central location in the ASUA office .
The most common destinations are residence halls, followed by the Main Library and the Student Rec Center, Walker said. Finals week is the busiest time of year for the service, he said.
The other aspect of the Escort Service, a day-time cart service for disabled students, has been operational since the first day of school, Walker said.
Craig Hogan, a day-time cart driver, said this service is also off to a slow start. "In the past I know there were days when people were scheduled to be picked up every 10 minutes, but (Friday) only seven people have requested a ride the entire day."
Seven paid drivers work for the day-time service, he said.
Anyone who is permanently or temporarily disabled can request a ride from the service after filling out an application, which is available at the ASUA front desk.