Dal ends walkhome service

University says service wasn't widely used

Dalhousie has eight emergency “blue lights” around campus. These emergency phones can be used to contact Dalhousie security immediately. Photo: Jessica Piche

Moving to a new city can be daunting, especially if you don't know your way in the dark.

Chrisitine Zevnik, originally from Calgary, is a new student at Dalhousie University. She said she has noticed a difference between nighttime activity on campus compared to her previous university.

"The streets get pretty quiet here as soon as the sun sets," said Zevnik. "Even at 8 p.m. it's pretty deserted and a very long walk home."

Having a safe-walk option would be a useful option for students after dark, she said. She used her previous universities numerous times.

Safe rides not walks

However, about a month prior to the most recently reported campus assault on Oct. 3, Dalhousie cancelled its Tiger Patrol walk-home program.

The university-funded service provided students a campus escort between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. It employed a paid team of one male and one female campus security guard each night. Students at the university after hours could call the team and be walked to their destination on or near the Dalhousie campus.

Now, students only have access to the Tiger Patrol Bus to make it home safe. It operates from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week during the academic year. It will pick up and drop off Dalhousie and King's students from predetermined stops on campus and throughout Halifax.

Use it or lose it: Tiger Patrol cut

According to Jake MacIsaac, Dalhousie community safety officer, lack of use resulted in the cancellation of the Tiger Patrol.

"There would be paid officers sitting around because calls just weren't coming in," said MacIsaac.

Instead of redistributing the estimated $75,000 it cost to run the service to other security initiatives, the funds were cut from the budget. Since the cancellation of the walking service, the Tiger Patrol shuttle has seen a 20 per cent increase in use, said MacIsaac.

"We've had over 1,200 rides since September compared to only about 50 walks last year."

However, it is difficult to determine whether personal safety at Dalhousie has also increased. Anything reported to Dalhousie's campus security office is recorded as an "incident," said MacIsaac.

From false fire alarms to personal attacks, all problems are given equal weighting. Furthermore, few assaults on students are even reported at all to campus security.

Student-run alternative

A student volunteer safe walk could be possible in the future, Student Union President Chris Saulnier told CBC.

Similar to other university student patrols, it would likely consist of a volunteer student team who would be on-call to provide a walking escort.

MacIssac said Campus Security would be open to discussions with the student union on how to best set up a walk-home service.

Until then, Zevnik will continue to be walking home alone.

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