Liabilities loom over SafeRides

Author: Anthony Adragna

Middlebury College administrators remain reluctant to commit to a SafeRides program until they receive a more concrete proposal which encompasses all forms of campus life, despite the Student Government Association's drive to implement the program as quickly as possible.

"The College is willing to listen to any proposal that would benefit students," said Doug Adams, director of the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership. "The problem is our liability and the safety of everyone involved. The proposal must meet our standards and the College's mission."

Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson said the implementation of the program remains a concern of the SGA. "Last year the SGA worked to try and iron out a program which would provide SafeRides for students from off-campus parties back to campus," she said. "There were many concerns and liabilities and ultimately they did not move ahead with their recommendations. I think this is still a concern of the SGA and I believe they will continue to look for ways to find safe transportation for students who are traveling to and from off-campus parties."

SGA President Alex Stanton said last week that he will work this year to implement the SafeRides program in hopes of preventing accidents following late-night off-campus parties. Stanton said he hopes to vote on a proposal at the first SGA meeting of the year and implement the program as soon as possible.

Senior Emily Holick said she would support the SGA's proposed SafeRides program.

"It sounds like a good idea to me," she said. "That way, no one would be tempted to drive home slightly inebriated."

While there exist many potential benefits from the program, Hanson acknowledged several risks that would make the implementation of the program less desirable.

"There are lots of issues of liability both for the students being transported and for the drivers. We certainly don't want to put any of the students at risk, including student volunteer drivers."

Holick admitted that unsafe driving from off-campus parties is occasionally a problem for partiers at Middlebury.

"I think too often people drive home that are compromised in some way," said Holick. "However, I think people take responsibility for others and friends and are willing to be designated drivers."

While similar programs have succeeded at other campuses, Middlebury has a unique challenge to implementation given its rural location. "There have been many models of programs that have been used, including providing free taxi service back to campus for students who have been drinking," Hanson said. "We have some limitations here in Vermont as not many types of public transportation exist which run rurally, late at night."

Success of these programs tended to vary by school. "If you look at the success of some of these programs at other colleges you find that each program is very institutionally specific," Adams said. "We've left it to the students to create the proposal. I'd be more than happy to meet with students."

Hanson said Middlebury needs to continue to investigate options surrounding the system. "We need to continue to try and figure out a safe and convenient system," she said. "At times buses provided that service, but I understand that students who had been drinking became 'rowdy' and some students threw up on the buses and the bus companies decided that they didn't want to provide this kind of transportation."

Members of the administration remain concerned with students safely traveling to and from parties. "I don't think 'the administration' has an official position on this issue," Hanson said. "Rather, we would like students to travel safely on and off-campus"

Holick not believe hosts of parties should have to provide transportation home for attendees. "Students should have enough wits to plan ahead and go the party only if they are sure they will be able to find a way home," she said. "Often one can call friends on campus that can help if you get stuck at a party; in general, I think there are always options of finding the right people who can help you get back safely."

Adams, however, stressed the role that students who decide to host parties must play in the process. "Hosts need to take on additional responsibility," he said. "They should not get drunk at parties. They need to act responsibly and make sure people can get back safely."

"Obviously drunk driving in any case is a problem," Adams continued. "It is a problem here but it should go deeper than that. We need to stress to students that they need to be responsible in their alcohol consumption."

Key to the success of the proposals will be having all parties involved in the negotiations. "Any solution needs to be comprehensive with everyone involved," Adams said. "That includes both off-campus hosts of parties and the heads of functions here on campus."

Adams said the CCAL did not study other programs at other colleges but that the SGA would conduct their own research.