The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) has been working with administrators to propose a new system for the campus escort and safety shuttle system. The highlight of the proposal calls for two shuttles running on a loop throughout campus as well as a shuttle that would run to downtown Middletown.
“The plan was submitted in an effort to increase student access to the program and to propose the use of student drivers,” said Director of Auxiliary Services Manny Cunard, who has worked with the WSA on the project. “[The intended function is] greater convenience for students and better access to downtown.”
The proposal also includes opportunities for the Middletown bus system to include a Wesleyan loop, as well as use of other campus vehicles, such as the Office of Community Service van.
“We are working to create a consolidated transportation program on campus that includes the shuttle program as well as the coordination of use of all other transportation vehicles on campus,” Cunard said. “We can increase safety, efficiency of use, and availability of our vehicles through better coordination and more effective scheduling.”
Because the new system would involve more employees and coordinating effort, control of the program would be transferred from Public Safety to a new department. Employees of the shuttle and escort program would maintain current positions.
In order to accommodate the WSA proposal, the Administration suggested that the driving escort service be eliminated to alleviate financial concerns. The driving escort would be replaced by walking student escorts.
The WSA passed a resolution Sunday in favor of the driving escort, in hopes of keeping it as part of the final plan. The resolution passed unanimously with one abstention.
“Sunday’s resolution acknowledged the necessity of the escort service as compensation for the inherent limitations of the shuttle service, the problems that a ”walking escort“ might create, and the necessity of maintaining both a shuttle and an escort in order to ensure student safety,” said WSA member Karen Courtheoux ’05, who helped draft the resolution. “In my opinion, the proposed shuttle expansion does not eliminate the need for the car-escort.”
WSA member Allison Burson ’07, who has worked on the proposed changes, acknowledged the difficulties in expanding the shuttle and maintaining escort.
“I don’t know whether or not it’s possible to fund the two shuttles and a revamped shuttle system that really works,” she said.
The WSA proposed the changes due to concerns about the effectiveness of the current escort and shuttle system.
“Escort right now isn’t really a well-run escort system,” Burson said. “Most people don’t use it.”
Though administrators were concerned that students use the services for convenience, and not safety, the WSA said it thought otherwise.
“People are using it for safety,” Burson said.
Due to the WSA’s resolution, consideration of a final plan will continue.
“I’m sure it will get reconsidered,” Burson said. “I can’t imagine just having it get pushed through. The primary concern is the safety of students and then convenience of transport.”
Despite the continued planning period, Cunard hopes to have the new system in place by the fall.
Leave a Reply