Security Escort limits route around campus

Demetrius Carter
Contributing Writer

With a recent increase in crime surrounding VCU’s campuses, some students are worried they will be left to fend for themselves because of limitations in VCU Security Escort’s route.

VCU’s escort service runs between the hours of 5 p.m. to 8 a.m the next morning on the weekends. During the week, service stops at 2 a.m. The service runs west on Broad Street to Lombardy Street and east to 9th Street and between Cumberland and Leigh streets.

On the weekends after 9 p.m, escort services can shuttle students between the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

Over the summer, VCU canceled bus route No. 89, which was a route used to move students around the MCV campus. The route was canceled in June, about a month after the semester ended.

With changes in the security escort policies, only students who live in certain areas are able to take advantage of the service; others living past the designated points have to walk the rest of the way to their destinations.

Some students say the escort service has not only been useful but that they also use it as a safety precaution.

“Each night I have to walk home from the corner of Grace and Harrison streets because VCU escort has a restriction how far the can go,” VCU student Michael Dolmer said. “Last year escort dropped me off right in front of my house.”

“I feel (this route) definitely limits us drivers,” said Carlo Lewis, student and escort driver. “Our job is to escort all of the VCU community, not half of it.”

VCU Security Escort’s route pattern is not the only thing that concerns students.

“Once I called the VCU escort service for a ride back to my apartment from the business building to avoid walking through Monroe Park,” said VCU student Kylessa Ross. “I waited for over 30 minutes, (and) I eventually had to walk home.”

For more information, visit vcu.edu/police. To contact Security Escort Services, call 828-WALK (9255).