Safetywalk is the only available pedestrian escort service at Harvard and it is coordinated and staffed by student volunteers. Although it operates on a volunteer basis, Safetywalk has had difficulty getting students to take advantage of the service.
After nearly folding due to lack of interest last year, Safetywalk organizers decided to provide walkers Sunday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 4 a.m. as opposed to last year's 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. schedule.
"We're hopeful that more students will take advantage of the service now that we're available from 12 to 4," says Co-Director Karen M. Paik '99.
Walkers work on a volunteer basis, working in teams in cooperation with campus police.
RAD, HASTE and Safetywall heighten awareness and safety, but no program offers foolproof protection.
"Even on well-lit paths and at appropriate times, all we can do is take steps to reduce the odds," says Mackay-Smith.
University as Watchdog
In addition to enhanced police presence and availability of education programs, the College has played a key role in establishing a firm safety infrastructure.
Shuttle service hours have been extended this year and new buses have been purchased, Epps says.
For late-night transportation, students can also call the campus escort service that is managed by University Transportation Services.
General Manager of Shuttle and Fleet Management Services Peter Witt, who runs the escort service, says few students are aware of the service despite advertisements on shuttle schedules and the World-Wide Web.
"The number of students who call for vans is very sporadic," says Witt, who attributes the service's relative obscurity to the fact that individuals must call to request transportation.
"There are some students that come often, but we operate on a first come first serve basis," he says.
For students who choose to walk around campus, safety phones provide added protection.
This year the College has added eight new phones--at a cost of about $600 each--including two deluxe models, one of which is located in front of Loker Commons.
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