Safetywalk Service Resumes Operation

If students called Safetywalk early this fall only an answering machine picked up. But as of Sunday night, students are again staffing Harvard's only late-night walking service.

Although the University has been publicizing Safetywalk since the beginning of this year, the opening was delayed because its directors could not recruit enough volunteers to staff it.

"There was no reason it suddenly got more dangerous to walk," said Co-Director Adam A. Hachikian '01. "We just got it started as soon as we could."

Students who feel uncomfortable about walking home at night, especially in locations on campus that have been prone to crime--like the path to Dunster and Mather, Cambridge Common, and the long trek to the Quad--can now expect an escort team to arrive within 10 minutes of calling Safetywalk.

The University's escort shuttle service, in contrast, ends at 2:30 a.m. on weeknights and can take up to 45 minutes to pick up students after they call, said Randy A. Bell '00, one of last year's co-directors.

[Co-ed teams of two students staff the Safetywalk line from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.]

Since it is difficult to find volunteers for weekend nights, and because the service does not want to be responsible for conducting students home from parties, Safetywalk is only available on weeknights, according Randy A. Bell '00, one of last year's co-directors.

Hachikian added that he and fellow director John S. Neumann '01 struggled this fall to recruit enough volunteers to launch Safetywalk.

"As you can imagine, it's somewhat difficult to get volunteers," Hachikian said. "It's late, and it's cold; it's not exactly the most pleasant task."

But now about 25 volunteers staff Safetywalk. Most of them have volunteered before and about 60 percent are male. Volunteers serve two-hour shifts, toting cell-phones and walkie-talkies funded by the Harvard University Police Department. And Hachikian said volunteers are encouraged to travel by bike to cut down their response time.

"We're highly mobile," Bell said.

Last year, Hachikian said, fewer students called Safetywalk than he thinks should have. Only six to seven people called each week, Bell said, many of them repeat callers.

Once students called once, they found Safetywalk responsive and friendly, Hachikian said.

"One of the ultimate goals this year is to get increased usage," Hachikian said.

This year's co-directors say they have begun a campaign to publicize Safetywalk's services, and the University has pitched in, listing Safetywalk in the pamphlet of Safety Services it distributed to students this fall.

Hachikian and Neumann are also encouraging volunteers to wear Safetywalk T-shirts. In the past week they plastered the Yard with posters and circulated an e-mail informing students of the service.

Hachikian encourages anyone who feels uncomfortable walking home, alone or not, to call Safetywalk at 6-5656 from a Centrex phone. Bicycling escorts will arrive in a matter of minutes and guide students through the darkness.

"As you can imagine, it's somewhat difficult to get volunteers," Hachikian said. "It's late, and it's cold; it's not exactly the most pleasant task."

But now about 25 volunteers staff Safetywalk. Most of them have volunteered before and about 60 percent are male. Volunteers serve two-hour shifts, toting cell-phones and walkie-talkies funded by the Harvard University Police Department. And Hachikian said volunteers are encouraged to travel by bike to cut down their response time.

"We're highly mobile," Bell said.

Last year, Hachikian said, fewer students called Safetywalk than he thinks should have. Only six to seven people called each week, Bell said, many of them repeat callers.

Once students called once, they found Safetywalk responsive and friendly, Hachikian said.

"One of the ultimate goals this year is to get increased usage," Hachikian said.

This year's co-directors say they have begun a campaign to publicize Safetywalk's services, and the University has pitched in, listing Safetywalk in the pamphlet of Safety Services it distributed to students this fall.

Hachikian and Neumann are also encouraging volunteers to wear Safetywalk T-shirts. In the past week they plastered the Yard with posters and circulated an e-mail informing students of the service.

Hachikian encourages anyone who feels uncomfortable walking home, alone or not, to call Safetywalk at 6-5656 from a Centrex phone. Bicycling escorts will arrive in a matter of minutes and guide students through the darkness.