SIUC Needs a "Drunk Bus" Safety Service

Southern Illinois University has been known as a party school. Let's face it, every school has students that drink. But, an increasing problem in Carbondale is student safety, when under the influence of alcohol.

We have seen numerous students who have gotten DUI's, dealt with violence, and still get behind the wheel, intoxicated. Students do not have a reliable safety service to get from one side of town, to the other. Although cabs are available, they take forever to pick you up, and are not 100% reliable, and they don't take credit.

People in Carbondale should be educated on this issue, and should do something about it for the future of SIUC students, and their safety. If there was a "drunk bus" safety service, the DUI rates would decrease, and alcohol-related injuries and deaths would decrease as well. More importantly, students will be able to have fun, safely.

Through my investigation, I have come across several Universities that have a "drunk bus" safety service for their students. Illinois State University has a late night service that allows students to get downtown safely, all you need is your ID, and it's free. Northern Illinois University also has a safety service for students. Bowling Green State University has a few different ways of safe transportation for students as well. These are just a few of the schools I found that have a service for students, and provide a safe way of getting around.

Have you ever noticed that on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Police site, there are no safety services for our students? Although, we have a saluki express, there is no "late night" service for students to ride on the weekends like the other Universities. If you also look at the Department of Public Safety, you will see, there are no "late night" bus service for students who may be going to bars or parties, and under the influence of alcohol. We only have a transit service that will take you from your home to campus, and vice versa. They will not pick you up or drop you off anywhere close to the strip or by Pinch on the other side of town.



I didn't interview or talk to sources, besides a few students. However, I found a video on YouTube, "The Drunk Bus Chronicles," from East Carolina University. It is a great source, even though I wasn't there.

As I continued my investigation on the safety bus services, I had a hard time finding actual documents on DUI statistics in Carbondale. I would need to obtain documents that show the DUI arrests, alcohol related injuries/deaths, and violence (that has occurred while students walk from one side of town to the other, while under the influence of alcohol).

I would also need to find documents on the budget for the University, and by looking at the Fiscal Budget I'm able to see what money is being spent, and on what. After looking at the budget, we would need to consider how much money it would cost to have this "late night" service, and how the money would be absorbed. We'd also need to find out how much a bus driver would need to be paid, and consider the amount for maintenance.

We also need to take in consideration, student fees. Student at SIUC, have access to the recreational center, and are given meal plans for those who live in dorms. If we had a safety "drunk bus", the University could give students money (that would be charged to their bursar account) on their Dawg Tag Card per semester. By having a certain amount of money for each semester, students would be able to ride the safety bus as needed. But, if you saw the other universities safety information, some services are free. It really depends on the budget and what money is being spent on, and where.

In 2005, the Mini-Alcohol Enforcement Program was created. It showed that the University was awarded $19,357 . The program is designed to decrease alcohol- related traffic crashes, and to crack down on DUI's. What I don't understand, is that the University was awarded this money, and three years later, DUI rates are still high, and alcohol- related accidents have occurred. There should be some sort of grant for a safety bus service for the students. If SIU had a safety bus service, I would bet money, that the DUI rates and alcohol-related injuries/accidents will decrease as well. When I searched the SIUC website for MAP, it only pulled up articles about "police focusing on drunk driving, police expand traffic enforcement." What they need to be focusing on, is the students safety. It's clear that they aren't. That money could be used more efficiently on generating a safety service for Carbondale.

Sources
In order to gain more information on a safety service, I would need to talk to some different people. First, I need to get a hold of the Department of Transportation. I would ask them why SIUC doesn't have a "drunk bus" service.

Second, I would talk to President Glenn Poshard. I would ask him about the fiscal budget, and what is going on with MAP currently. I'd also ask him, how he feels about the other schools that have a bus service available. Lastly, I'd want to ask him about the DUI's and alcohol- related injuries/accidents. If we had a safety bus, don't you think students wouldn't have to worry about DUI, and will get home safe?

Third, I'd talk to the other Universities that have the bus services, and find out the rate of students with DUI's before, and the rate of DUI after the safety buses started service.

Fourth, I'd talk to students obviously. I would find out their way of transportation, and if they would be in favor of a "late night bus" service, and if they would use it responsibly.

I talked to two students, Jacque Charveron, 24, and Maggie Davidson, 22. I asked them a few questions on the issue.

Me: How do you get around town when you're out and drinking?
Jacque: I drive.
Me: Why?
Jacque: Because it takes too long to wait for a cab. I once waited two hours for one, and they never came.
Me: If we had a "drunk bus" safety service, would you take it? and if so, would you take advantage of it, and party more excessively?
Jacque: I would definitely ride the bus! I wouldn't have to worry about driving anymore. I wouldn't party any different than I already do.
Maggie: The University will realize how much students really do drink, but if they had a bus, students would at least be safe.
Me: Do you think it's the universities responsibility to protect their students?
Maggie: Yes, we're paying the school an obscene amount of money. Take away one scholarship from the football team, and we'd have money to get a safety bus service.
Me: Do you think the police are doing a good enough job in protecting students?
Jacque: No. The only reason why they care, is because they're making more money by giving DUI's. If we had a safety bus, they'd be losing money, because they wouldn't be giving out as many DUI's.

Fifth, I would talk to the local bar owners or bartenders on the strip, and the bars located on Grand Ave. (such as Pinch Penny Pub) and see if they are for or against, having a safety bus for their student customers whom they serve.

Ethical Concerns
Is it the University's responsibility to protect the students' safety?
Even if a student is consuming alcohol underage, is it ethical to rid them of a safe way to get around?
Would students take advantage of a safety bus?
If we had a safety bus service, would it make SIUC look bad, or alter its reputation?
How will other people in Carbondale react to it?
Is it ethical to allow students to feel unsafe, and not know what they will face when under the influence of alcohol?

A little video that might make you think twice about drinking and driving.

If I weren't graduating in May, I would try my hardest to educate Carbondale, and to get a "drunk bus" safety service up and running at SIUC. I think it is the right, that every future student deserves to have. Here's a little simile to conclude this post- A safety bus is like dessert taken away from a child; if you don't do what you're supposed to, or if you get in trouble, dessert can be taken away, just like that! So, what I'm saying people, is that getting a safety bus is a really good thing, but if people take advantage of it, and excessively drink, and cause trouble, they may just ruin it for everyone else.

If anyone has any feedback (positive or negative), or has any suggestions/information on the "Drunk bus" safety service, please feel free to leave a comment on here. Or you can email me at, luvy03@siu.edu