In response to the Student Services Financial Committee's Friday decision to cut more than half of SAFEwalk's funding, UW Transportation has pledged to fund the service anyway, provoking complaints from SSFC members who claim the university is undermining student government authority.
\We will be working with the Dean of Students office to develop a campus-wide safety program and so we will be continuing to operate the SAFEwalk program,"" said UW Director of Transportation Gordon Graham. ""SAFEwalk is the most effective way to improve safety on campus and so there is no way we would cut it.""
Criticism about the SAFEwalk budget cuts and intended operational changes came from both SAFEwalk employees and SSFC members.
""UW Transportation is basically stripping student's rights and student government's rights in determining what transportation services are actually serving campus,"" SSFC member Tim Schulz said. ""Instead of letting the students decide, they let just a few UW administrators decide.""
Splitting funding between UW Transportation and SSFC left the SAFEride cab service threatened.
""The administrators basically said they were going to fund SAFEwalk no matter what the students think, and if the SSFC chooses not to fund SAFEwalk, then they weren't going to fund SAFEcab,"" Schulz said.
Problems started when SSFC looked to cut wasteful segregated fee spending because of increasing tuition costs.
""On an average of five-hour shifts, students are only working two hours. If they are in buildings or doing other things while getting paid then they can't be the eyes and ears of campus,"" Schlict said.
Safe Arrival For Everyone consists of three services: SAFEwalk, SAFEride cab service and the SAFEride bus service. Cutting the SAFEwalk program could potentially clog the other two services.
""Labeling the program's $60,000 budget as a little over 1,000 walks last year did not include the community programs we are involved in also. Each year, SAFEwalk does presentations at SOAR to both the students and the parents,"" SAFEwalker Dani Koel said. ""You wouldn't believe how many parents approach us that really appreciate the university offering this service.""
As part of a more comprehensive community program, SAFEwalk dispatcher Brandon Strelow considered $53 per SAFEwalk a bargain.
""Sure $53 a walk sounds like a lot, but when there are 40,000 students on campus, $1.50 a student is a small price to pay for safety on campus. If SAFEwalk is eliminated, the cabs will be busier than ever, which is more expensive anyways,"" Strelow said.
