PETITION: Fund The B.L.U.E. Shuttle Throughout The Academic Year
Introduction
In response to the increased reporting of public, stranger, sexual assault on Cornell University\'s Campus, many students do not feel safe walking alone around campus and in its surrounding areas. Thus, student safety on our campus is of urgent concern. One way to address campus safety concerns is by expanding the B.L.U.E. shuttle service.
More info on the B.L.U.E. shuttle:
In response to community concerns about student safety on campus, the Women\'s Resource Center, Student Assembly and Cornell Hillel launched the first late night shuttle pilot program during study week in May 2011. Picking students up near libraries, the shuttle ran along a route designed specifically with high-risk locations in mind. Even after its first run, B.L.U.E. inspired
a resounding response from the community, encouraging the team to expand the B.L.U.E. efforts for the following semester.
Adopted into the Cornell Women\'s Resource Center\'s programming after receiving byline funding, the B.L.U.E. shuttle continued in fall 2011 and has continued through this semester. In the upcoming year, the B.L.U.E. team plans to schedule shuttle services for five times during the academic session: the "prelim," "midterm" and study week in the fall and the first "prelim" week and study week in the spring.
Throughout the process of developing B.L.U.E., our team has received invaluable support from the Women\'s Resource Center, Student Assembly, Office of Workforce Diversity and Inclusion, Public Safety Advisory Committee, Cornell Hillel, among myriad other campus groups.
Peer Institutions With Free Late Night Transportation Provided to Students
Vanderbilt University has a system called Vandy Vans and has a similar size student body. The Vanderbilt Police Department administers the Vandy Vans shuttle bus program at Vanderbilt University. The Vandy Vans pick up and drop off at pre-designated points on campus. The service operates from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM during the fall and spring semesters. The vans follow three routes on campus.
For more info see: http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/vsg/services/vandy-vans/ .
Northwestern University offers a variety of free shuttle services. The Campus Loop Shuttle operates daily from 9:00 pm to 3:16 am during daylight savings time, and 6:00 pm to 3:16 am during standard time. The driver breaks from 7:53 pm to 8:30 pm. It operates during the academic year.
For more info see: http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/shuttles/evanston/index.html
They also offer a program called SafeRide. SafeRide is a service provided to members of the Northwestern community as a safe and free alternative to walking alone after dark. SafeRide drivers provide rides to and from destinations in and around Northwestern\'s Evanston campus. SafeRide is not a taxi, it is a safety service meant to be used in conjunction with other strategies such as traveling in groups and using Northwestern\'s free Shuttle Service. SafeRide is staffed by student employees and administrators dedicated to enhancing campus safety.
For more info see: http://www.northwestern.edu/saferide/
University of Pennsylvania provides Penn Shuttles. Penn Shuttles provide "to door" transportation to and from campus to West Philadelphia, Center City and Powelton Village within Penn Transit\'s service area every day of the week between 6 pm and 7 am.
For more info see: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/transportation/types-of-services/penn-shuttles.html
Funding
The B.L.U.E. shuttle is currently byline funded by the SA through the Women’s Resource Center and receives $0.50 of each student’s student activity fee, which amounts to approximately $6,500. The B.L.U.E. shuttle currently only has funding to runs 5x a year for two to three nights each time. The shuttle costs $350 a night to run from 11 PM to 4 AM. Publicity costs are not accounted for in these figures.
Route
Currently the B.L.U.E. shuttle has four pick up sites on campus at Bradfield Hall, Kennedy Hall, Uris Hall, and Annabel Taylor Hall. Then it follows a rough route when dropping students off at their doorsteps. The B.L.U.E. shuttle will deviate from the route to ensure all students are dropped off at their doorsteps. The current route will be for Sunday through Thursday. An alternate route should be drawn for the weekend that takes into account student social life.
Petition
The B.L.U.E. shuttle does not have enough funding to run continuously throughout the year. By signing this petition you are insisting that the administration be steadfast in providing funds to allow five B.L.U.E. shuttle vans to run continuously from 9:30 PM to 4 AM every night during the academic year, including weeknights and weekends. Although we understand that this will not stop students from being sexually assaulted or truly address rape culture, as nighttime and walking alone in the darkness are not perpetrators of rape, we want to stress the urgency and need to create an environment where all students feel safe. Having a dependable ride home contributes to building a sense of safety of which has slowly diminished in recent time for many Cornell students. Thus, although there may be a shortage of funds within the university, campus safety should be seen as a priority that is of URGENT concern. Please sign this petition if you insist that the university fund the B.L.U.E. shuttle in full continuously throughout the academic year.
Most Recent Signatures
No one has signed this petition.
|
Petition Details
|