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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2002)
Assault prevention group looks for recruits The University^ YellowJackets Vblunteer Program will be looking for new volunteers during Week ofWelcome this fall Jillian Daiey Family/Health/Education Reporter They won’t sting you. These Yel low Jackets are actually here to help. The University’s Yellow Jackets Volunteer Program, an assault pre vention group made of students, fac ulty and staff, will begin recruiting in the fall during Week ofWelcome. The program began in the middle of spring term after a rash of assaults against female students occurred around campus. Volunteers patrol campus in pairs, equipped with flashlights, radios and their signature yellow coats. The program’s participants and creators agreed to the policy that volunteers are not meant to intervene during a crisis situation, they are meant to be the eyes and ears of the University. Director of Public Safety Tom Fitz patrick, of the Department of Public Safety, said the idea was based on a neighborhood watch, and the mere presence of uniformed patrollers might be enough to help deter future attacks on students. DPS, along with the LGBTQA, and Alpha Phi Omega, a service organization, were some of the groups instrumental in jump starting the program, Vice President for Student Affairs Anne Leavitt said. Some said the Yellow Jackets pro gram might be a better alternative. “I just feel the campus community would be better served by preventative measures rather than policing meas ures,” University student Shane Cud dihy told the Emerald on March 12. The Yellow Jackets serve a differ ent purpose. “We look for any suspicious activi ty,” Yellow Jackets student coordina tor Meghan Madden said. “We also escort students on campus or if peo ple are alone they can walk up and ask for an escort.” Madden said their bright uniform attracted a few jeers while the pairs went out on their shifts, but overall people have been grateful for their presence, and support the program. Madden added in spring term, the program could not fill all the time slots, so volunteers had to do double shifts. About a dozen people helped kick off the program, but it had grown to 25 by the end of spring term, she said. Madden said the small turnout probably was because of timing. She hopes that by beginning of fall term, the group will have an easier time recruiting people. Mad den said getting 100 people in volved is the goal. Night Ride, the co-ed version of Saferide (a women-only assault pre vention service), which began this summer, offers another means of keeping students safe. The group’s existence began in response to com plaints of violations of the 1972 Title IX Higher Education Acts this past year. Title IX stipulates that women and men should have equal access to services. Night Ride is aimed prima rily at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and minority popula tion, as these groups are often vic tims of hate crimes. Night Ride will also be recruiting volunteers for the fall. Contact the news reporter atjilliandaley@dailyemerald.com. ! Try us first for all your back to school seeds* SCHOOL SUPPLIES 20% OFF Spiral Notebooks 20% OFF Ring Binders 20% OFF Filler Paper ART SUPPLIES 20% OFF Artists9 Brushes 20% OFF Strathmore Drawing, Sketch & Charcoal Pads 1 ARCHITECTURE SUPPLIES 25% OFF IVlaylines 30% OFF Board cover 20% OFF Lamps SALE ENPS 0CT0SBR I5TH. Check out ear newly remodeled Art and Scheel department. Since 1920. (541) 346-4331 www.uobookstore.com 014600 mam Emerald Students are encouraged to sign up with Yellow Jackets, a volunteer patrol group. vegetarian menu available NO MSG DAILY LUNCH & DINNER BUFFET Seafood Buffet - Fridays 5 pm Veggie Buffet - Thursdays 5 pm V 906 W. 7th | 344-9523 | closed Mondays J
