The Department of Public Safety’s SLU Ride program, sometimes the subject of student criticism, has gone through a major overhaul. Under the new direction of DPS Field Supervisor Mark Harris, the program has, among other improvements, created a new dispatch center in Reinert Hall and launched a new computer system to process requests.
Reinert was chosen as the site for the new dispatch center because it was a convenient and a “student-friendly” location. It serves as an information center, as well as a place for Reinert students to wait for escorts. The office is adjacent to Reinert’s lobby.
“This is to cater toward the freshman class,” said Xinzhe Zhang, the program’s scheduling administrative coordinator. “It’s closer to students, and we want [to have] people aware that we’re around.”
Another change to the service is a new computer program that tracks all calls made requesting an escort. Developed by Zhang, this program can count will streamline the process and compile statistical information, according to Zhang.
“[In the past] calls were forgotten because they were on paper. In this program, a pending ride will blink,” said Zhang. “There are less errors, and it’s easier at night with accumulating calls.”
Workers will enter all escort requests into the computer. The program will record the pick-up point, destination, pick-up time and time of completion for each trip; in addition, it will allow the workers to see which times of the day tend to bring the largest number of calls, which will enable them to be better staffed during those hours.
Some students have been critical of SLU Ride’s performance in the past, saying that it was slow to respond to requests for rides or escorts.
For instance, sophomore Caitlin Lewis said that last October DPS took more than an hour and a half to respond to an escort request made by a resident assistant on her behalf. Lewis was sick with a kidney infection and, at about 8 p.m., asked to be transported to Saint Louis University Hospital.
“I don’t think it was acceptable for them to take that long,” Lewis said. “I was sick and practically delusional with a high fever.”
DPS is also actively hiring more student workers to staff the program.
Harris said the changes to the program will lessen the workload of DPS officers, who would previously have to take the ride requests if student workers were not available.
“We want to extend hours and increase the number of vehicles,” Harris said. “DPS officers should be patrolling and be dispatched toward emergencies.”
Many on campus encourage students to take advantage of the program to avoid becoming victims of crime.
“I begged my residents to use it,” said junior Lara Brandstetter, who was a resident adviser in Reinert last year. “I was worried about them being out late.”
