Meredith Rodriguez
News Assistant
At last week’s meeting, SGA discussed bringing Safe Rides, a controversial taxi program, back to campus.
“Like many universities, Pepperdine has experimented with a variety of Safe Rides programs over the years,” Seaver Dean of Student Affairs Mark Davis said.
Most recently in the Spring 2003, former SGA President Ben Elliot ran a pilot Safe Rides program. This pilot proposed two things: first, that SGA would pay a percentage of the cab fare depending on the mileage of the ride. Second, if 500 students used the program, then SGA would continue to fund it.
Safe Rides was cancelled, however, after only 15 students used it during February and March 2003.
In spring 2004, former SGA President Jason Palmer attempted to revive Safe Rides once again. His efforts failed when Malibu Cab Company, the only company formerly willing to host Safe Rides, refused.
“It was not financially viable for them,” said Assistant Director of Student Affairs Michael Houston.
Davis revived the controversial Safe Rides issue this spring in a monthly alcohol abuse-prevention meeting, which he hosts with other faculty and staff. He asked SGA president Carl Kasalek to ask SGA what the senators thought about Safe Rides.
SGA members’ varied views align with Davis’ statement that Safe Rides “is a controversial issue across campus and at many schools.”
Some wondered whether or not Safe Rides would promote intoxication, while others argued that it is designed to help those who are not drinking.
Davis said he supports the policy that “prohibits the university from taking disciplinary action against students who use the service unless they are disruptive after returning to campus.”
Some challenges that Safe Rides presents, according to Davis, is the large geographical area that Malibu students travel to as well as students’ distrust that the administration will take disciplinary action against those using the service.
Davis continued, “Consequently, some Universities focus their resources on other prevention efforts such as alcohol-free social events, educational programs like AlcoholEdu, and counseling services.”
After some debate over Safe Rides, SGA discussion turned toward such prevention programs. Some agreed that bringing AlcoholEdu to classrooms such as Freshmen Seminars was a good idea.
Judicial Director Dan Rath suggested that money might best be used in preventative counseling instead of a program like Safe Rides.
02-03-2004