The Women's Center on Friday hosted a forum for students to meet with Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Capt. Mark Keith in response to students' concerns about the accessibility of TUPD officers.
The forum was intended to improve communication between TUPD and students and was part of a yearlong series of Friday guest lunches that the Women's Center hosts to explore a variety of topics.
Director of the Women's Center Steph Gauchel explained that students have voiced concerns about their expectations of TUPD officers, particularly with regards to procedures surrounding the safety escort, a round−the−clock vehicle and walking escort service.
"It just sounded like there was a lack of clarity in terms of what the students should expect," she said.
Gauchel explained that some students have raised questions about the demeanor of dispatchers for the escort service, who they say seem less friendly than necessary. These concerns were raised at the meeting.
"People brought up concerns about negative interactions with police with the perception that police officers weren't as friendly as maybe they would like," Keith said.
Worries that this would compromise campus safety motivated the decision to invite Keith to the lunch discussion, according to Gauchel.
"Even if it was just a small percentage of people who were having negative experiences, I was worried that that was becoming a rumor on campus and becoming a barrier to safety," she said. "At that point, I felt that in my role as the Women's Center director, it was important for me to make sure that Capt. Keith knew about that information."
Keith also noted that a number of attendees expressed their satisfaction with the escort service. "There were also several students who said that they use the system all the time, and they've had nothing but positive interactions," he said. "My guess is there's a balance."
He pointed out that there has over the past year been a significant increase in student usage of the service. From Sept. 1, 2008 through March 2009, TUPD received 1,625 requests for escorts between the hours of 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. This academic year, from September to the present, TUPD has already received over 2,800 calls.
TUPD Sgt. Robert McCarthy said that he was aware that one issue students sometimes complain about is the time it takes for the service to respond to calls. He explained that students often call during weekend nights when officers are especially busy.
"Sometimes it might take a while to get there," he said "We can't get there in four minutes sometimes. We try to, but we can't."
According to Gauchel, another issue that was raised was the accessibility of the service to students of all genders, with students citing incidences when they were asked to identify their gender upon requesting to be escorted.
Freshman Amy Wipfler, who participated in the forum, said that the service should be gender−blind. "If a guy feels unsafe on campus, he should be able to get a ride just as much as a female who feels unsafe on campus," she said.
Gauchel noted that the current system is in theory meant to be gender−blind.
"Captain Keith very explicitly said that it's an open service, that there shouldn't be questions about gender," Gauchel said. "He hadn't heard that complaint before, but I have heard other students say it."
Keith highlighted the importance of bringing such issues and complaints to TUPD's attention promptly by filing a report.
"It would be helpful if I were aware of it in a timely manner," he said. "If I hear about it weeks or months later, it's difficult for me to follow up on."
Gauchel agreed, saying that in the future students should be comfortable working with TUPD to clarify these issues. She also suggested making more information available online.
"For me, its really about, how can we make it a better line of communication between TUPD and students?" she said. "Because TUPD has the best intentions, otherwise they wouldn't offer the service at all. I just want to make sure that students feel like they have a right to use the service, they know how to use the service and they aren't scared to use the service."
Wipfler said that the atmosphere of the meeting was conducive to having a beneficial conversation with TUPD.
"I feel it went really well because it wasn't confrontational," she said. "We want a discussion, and we want everyone to feel like their voice can be heard without being judged, and I think that was accomplished."
Gauchel said that Keith was open to listening to students' concerns and opinions.
"He was really receptive to hearing the stories," Gauchel said. "I think what was best was students really had the chance to voice any situation that didn't register with them right."
Wipfler agreed and commended Keith's efforts to encourage an open environment. "[Capt.] Keith did a very good job of making sure that students were able to voice their issues," she said.
It was important for students to be able to speak directly with Keith instead of working through a faculty member or administrator, according to Gauchel.
"I think that's one of the most valuable avenues, when students get the chance to give their feedback firsthand," she said. "It's empowering for students, and it gives the person who's receiving it a better perspective, and it's just more meaningful if it's coming from the students."
