By Jordan Morris
Assistant News Editor
A long-awaited and hard-fought-for safety program on campus has experienced some initial growing pains.
Ever since Student Government Association President Ben Elliott unveiled the Safe Rides program at the Jan. 15 Convocation, it has been one of the most talked about SGA programs on campus. Besides offering considerable discounts on taxi fares, the program is designed to offer anonymous rides to and from on and off-campus locations to students who are under the influence of alcohol or in an otherwise unsafe situation.
Most students initially expressed optimism about the program.
In the Jan. 16 issue of The Graphic, SGA Senator Trevor McLaren said, “If I thought I were in an uncomfortable situation, I would use it.”
However, during its first month of implementation, SGA officials have been forced to correct “a couple of glitches” within Safe Rides, Elliott said.
These problems are grounded in confusion and miscommunication between Pepperdine students and representatives of the Independent Taxi Company, the organization that provides the Safe Rides service.
The Department of Public Safety has been highly involved in referring students to the Independent Taxi Company over the telephone since Jan. 15, DPS Communications Supervisor Brandon Lawler said.
“We have had a lot of referrals,” he said. “But a couple of people called back saying the company couldn’t help them.”
Among the students who have been denied the Safe Rides service was junior Derek Fossey. He has attempted to use Safe Rides on two different occasions, both around 1 a.m.
The first occasion occurred the week after Elliott announced the program at Convo. He called the number SGA gave out, but his “safe ride” never got underway.
“I even asked to speak to the manager, and even he said he had no clue of the Safe Rides program, or any Pepperdine University program,” Fossey said.
Instead, he was forced to call a friend to pick him up.
Two weeks later, he called the company again from Moonshadows restaurant, and a taxi was sent to pick him up. Upon arrival, the driver, who said he was also an assistant manager, claimed he had no idea about the program. Fossey was forced to pay the full cab price.
“I’m frustrated that we were promised a service that wasn’t delivered,” he said. “A lot of people may be counting on this.
“When SGA introduces a program, we expect it to be implemented right away,” he continued, speaking on behalf of concerned students.
Fossey notified Elliott of his problems with Safe Rides. The SGA president called the Independent Taxi Company to reconfirm the terms of the Safe Rides contract.
“We trusted that the other party would fulfill the contract,” Elliott said. “We have invested a lot of time and finances in this.”
Elliott said he gave Fossey his personal number and offered to give him a ride if he had problems with the program again. He later reimbursed Fossey for the taxi ride and sent him an apology card.
“Any students that pay full price for a cab ride should not hesitate to come forward to SGA,” Elliott said.
Other students, such as junior Katie Crawford, were frustrated by the arrival time estimated by the dispatcher. Crawford called the taxi company from a private Malibu residence.
“They said it was going to be 30 minutes,” she said. “So I got a ride with someone else.”
A senior who requested that her name not be used, said she was also deterred from using the service because of the estimated half hour wait for a taxi.
Additionally, until she uttered the words, “Safe Rides,” the dispatcher refused to send a taxi to her location at Point Dume, she said.
After she mentioned Safe Rides, the dispatcher put her on hold for five minutes before a taxi was sent.
“It’s a really good program to have, especially considering a lot of people do drive under the influence,” the student said. “They just need to work out the glitches in this program.”
In order to prevent future glitches in the relationship with the Independent Taxi Company, Elliott said he would make random phone calls to the company, asking questions to verify that the dispatchers are aware of the Safe Rides service.
A dispatcher at the Independent Taxi Company explained that cabs circulate throughout metropolitan Los Angeles, from South Central to Santa Monica. Dispatchers at the company office downtown send taxi requests electronically, and drivers in the area may pick up the request.
Despite the inability to pinpoint a taxi arrival time and the testimonies of frustrated students, International Taxi Company President Nettabai Ahmed said routine pickup times should not exceed 10 to 15 minutes.
“On a few cases we showed up, and (the students) weren’t there,” he said. “We couldn’t find them … and that worries me.”
Ahmed acknowledges the rocky start but is optimistic about the program’s future, which is the first of its kind that the Independent Taxi Company has participated in.
“There was a little bit of confusion (at first) … but now everything is running smoothly,” he said.
“We hope it will be long-term … and will expand to other organizations,” he added.
Elliott said it was too early to determine the success of Safe Rides, but he appreciates the feedback from students, some of which has been positive.
“A couple of students contacted me who used (Safe Rides) after the Gonzaga game,” Elliott said. “They said it worked fine.”
The Safe Rides contract ends April 14, at which time recommendations and changes will be made before SGA considers renewal.
Director of Pubic Safety Earl Carpenter said the department supports the program, but its main preference is that students not engage in activity that would force them to seek assistance in returning to campus.
Elliott, speaking on behalf of SGA, said they remain dedicated to the program.
“We believe in this,” he said.
February 13, 2003
