By Andre Paras
Managing Editor
It was a harsh welcome back to campus for me, navigating the College’s uneven pavement and walkways through muggy heat and even a flood watch, while on crutches with a sprained ankle.
Fortunately, there were times I was bailed out by the amazing community and friends I have alongside me, offering rides from where I live on campus to buildings where my classes met, or to grab food as well.
However, the top resource I was told to take advantage of during my experience was rarely able to help, and as a result led to getting around myself more than I would’ve liked to.
“Campus Police is available to escort people across campus 24 hours a day,” the College’s Parking Services website states. “Call the Campus Police dispatcher at extension 2345 (from a cell phone 609-771-2345) to obtain escort assistance.”
I followed this exact advice several times, but unfortunately none of my calls successfully led to an escort directly.
Sometimes I was told by dispatchers that this escort service wasn’t offered during the day, and to call back later in the evening, which goes directly against their “24 hours a day” claim. Another told me that only walking escorts were available at my time of calling – which would be pretty redundant since the goal was to not walk across campus in crutches at all.
I was even referred to call the Accessibility Resource Center to see if they could do anything about it a couple times. When I called them and explained my situation, they weren’t able to help me on campus and instead redirected me to an off campus medical supply company where I could buy my own knee scooter to get around – hard pass for me, already having to pay hospital bills for my injury.
And even when I listened to the advice of calling later in the evening, I was told there weren’t any vehicles available at the moment to bring me anywhere.
To be fair, one call was made during the involvement fair with heavy Campus Police presence there, but I made another on a night with nothing substantial happening on campus.
Regardless of what’s happening on campus, in my opinion there should always be at least one vehicle on campus able to mobile escort people as well as officers there for walking escorts. And if this vehicle is occupied, just to communicate that wait time with a student rather than complete disregard.
Throughout an entire week of attempts, I was only successful twice in getting an escort, and this came after my requests not being fulfilled over call, and actually beginning to walk across campus myself until I could flag down a Campus Police vehicle myself and ask in person.
Sure, I was still physically able to get across campus, but it still meant the inconvenience of my time and physical ability in summer weather, creating more risk in my life just to get to class and extracurricular activities.
“TCNJ Campus Police provide services to ensure safety (such as escorts around campus),” says the College’s own Anti-Violence Initiatives website.
Many times when I was rejected by a mobile escort, I did feel unsafe. Mainly, to get across this campus on crutches, that bears a lot of weight to carry on one’s upper body. Overuse of crutches can both delay recovery and lead to injuries elsewhere.
Now, fortunately I’m privileged to say my short-lived injury process is over, and I’m no longer in need of the escort services, but that’s not the case for some on this campus, and those dealing with injuries like mine in the future.
God forbid someone living with a disability was out on campus and desperately needed to get somewhere and/or felt unsafe, they should not be denied an escort. There could be emergency circumstances where making someone call the Accessibility Resource Center first to gain an accommodation for a ride is unfeasible.
The same goes for any able-bodied individual feeling unsafe walking throughout the day and night.
At the very least, “24 hour a day” escorts should not be advertised about on different campus resource websites if this is a promise Campus Police cannot live up to, or clearly mark walking escorts only if that’s the case.
I can only hope this article will reach the desks of those in charge of Campus Police, and that the change is made so this issue isn’t prevalent in the future, to further ensure safety in our college community.
