Concerns prompt resolution on TUPD escort service
Ben Gittleson
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: News
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Only two days after a graduate student was robbed at knifepoint at the intersection of Packard Avenue and Powderhouse Boulevard, one of the students called for a campus safety escort, a service provided by the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD). She was under the impression that the service could be utilized in such situations.
But when a squad car arrived to pick her and her friends up, the officer gave the students an uncomfortable "lecture" about underage drinking before taking them uphill, the student said.
"The impression that I got obviously was that if you're going to drink, don't use the escort service," the student who called TUPD said. The officer "made me feel like it was better if the three of us girls just walked back up Packard Ave. just by ourselves at four in the morning ... just after [Friday's] incident occurred."
In response to encounters like this one, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a resolution on Sunday recommending that TUPD make its escort service more accessible to students, advertise it better and expand its scope. The resolution focused in particular on students calling for help from off campus.
Junior and TCU President Neil DiBiase, who submitted the resolution, said it was a response to many complaints he has heard about the escort service and public safety in general during his time at Tufts. He also mentioned recent shootings on other college campuses as an impetus.
"We've been hearing ... recurring student concerns about public safety, specifically from off-campus students," said DiBiase, a junior. "I'd been getting frustrated with the situation of safety for students who particularly live off campus but [also] for all students in general."
DiBiase said action must be taken by the university, TUPD and the surrounding communities to ensure that further serious incidents do not occur.
"I don't think we do the best job providing public safety to our students and to our entire community," DiBiase said. He explained that Senator Matt Shapanka, a junior, has been working on public safety issues for several years but has seen very few improvements.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
andrew
posted 3/11/08 @ 5:02 PM EST
If the students want an inter-party shuttle, start a student organization for that purpose (take this one for example, http://www.unh.edu/transportation/programs/saferides. (Continued…)
A concerned parent
posted 3/12/08 @ 12:52 PM EST
I am shocked to learn that TUPD's policy for their escort service does not include driving between two off campus locations. Tufts does not guarantee housing for juniors and seniors, so many of them are forced to live off campus. (Continued…)
mdigirol
matt
posted 3/12/08 @ 2:05 PM EST
If you are drunk, underage, and call a COP to give you a ride, how would you expect to be treated. The students should be glad the cop only gave them a lecture and nothing more. (Continued…)
another suggestion
posted 3/13/08 @ 9:37 AM EST
Here is another University that provides a shuttle service that is well used, http://www.jhu.edu/~security/services_escortvan.html. Please note that it specifically lists that it provides campus to residence or residence to campus service so there is no using the service for party hopping. (Continued…)
KR
posted 3/19/08 @ 12:13 AM EST
Safety is paramount, but it does show a Tuftonian level of irresponsibility and entitlement to expect a TUPD OFFICER to chauffeur you back to your apartment because you're too wasted to get yourself there. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 5/05/08 @ 12:24 PM EST
Here's an interesting thing from the Admissions Dept senior interns' blog:
http://mumbojumbotufts.blogspot.com/2008/03/who-you-gonna-call-tupd-not.html
It puts a different spin on the escort service. (Continued…)
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