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Student Escorts’ Waning Presence on Campus

BY CHANEL LUBSEY
STAFF WRITER

Student escorts from previous years

The Department of Public Safety offers a student escort service Monday through Thursday, with the exception of holidays, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. These escorts walk students, faculty members and visitors safely to their classes, vehicles or dorms after dark.

A student escort is a paid position, and since the position was vacant for a year and a half, the job has been posted to the LIU employment site, according to James Contarino, a public safety lieutenant.

The campus concierge in Hillwood Commons offers an escort service where a student worker is available Monday through Thursday from 12:30-6 p.m. to help their fellow students.

The idea of being escorted by a fellow student places some student’s nerves at ease. “I think it would be helpful to create jobs and to help people feel more secure, because there’s safety in numbers,” Sean Clare, a freshman journalism major, said.

Some students tend to leave areas like the library, radio station or athletic fields late at night. Trusting that a public safety officer is available when needed draws the department’s attention away from other areas of concern.

“I feel the public safety officers can be wrapped up in other things, so it would be useful to have a service specifically for walking people to safety,” Lewis Eldridge, a senior film major said.

Tierra Gillet, a sophomore business management administration major, agreed with Eldridge. “Public Safety does do their job, but they cannot be everywhere, and they’re usually called in specific situations.”

Some students were unaware that the option to request an escort on campus existed. Eldridge said “I haven’t heard of it or seen it anywhere,” he said when he first learned about the service.

“I would suggest getting the word out that those services are available,” Gillet said. “I’m sure more people who are experienced with the campus would love to help.”

Any current students interested in working in the student led escort program should contact the Department of Public Safety, according to Michael Fevola, director of public safety. He said students should call between the hours of noon and 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and ask to speak with James Contarino, the lieutenant who supervises the program. Anyone looking to fill the vacancy can expect to work from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Until student escort positions are filled, public safety officer escorts are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To request a public safety officer escort, students can call the public safety at 516-299-2222.

When student escorts are available, they can be requested by visiting the concierge desk in Hillwood Commons or by calling 516-299-2200 before leaving for a destination.

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