I’m sure that you have heard of the Community Service Officer Program during orientation or when there were attacks on campus. They’re the people students can call to escort them to their cars or dorms late at night and make sure they get into their buildings or cars unharmed.
Yet, I have never been one to use the CSOs before. Not because it’s unimportant to use them late at night, but because I just want to get to my car and not have to wait for the CSOs to show up. However, this semester I am using the CSOs and glad that I am.
Through no fault of my own, I am taking night classes and so is my sibling. Like many late night classes, ours do not end until 8 or 9 p.m. and, let’s face it, our campus does not have the best lighting.
I feel unsafe walking this campus late at night, unless I’m walking with my sister or in a group. But it can be difficult to walk in a group at night because everyone goes their separate ways.
In the past when I had to walk to my car at night, I’d be on the lookout, especially after the attacks on campus last year. I told my father about the attacks and he in turn gave my sister and me a soccer whistle and a flashlight, which I carry with me.
At the time the attacks were taking place, we received the information cards to call the police when we felt unsafe. But, I didn’t use my card for a very simple reason: I didn’t want to wait for the police or CSOs to escort me.
I, like other Cal State Long Beach students, just wanted to get to my car, go home and not have to think about the bad things that can happen if I’m not aware of my surroundings.
However, this semester I am using the CSO service because they’re now waiting for students (like me and my sister) outside of the University Student Union to be picked up and driven to their cars. A good number of people, mostly women, take the offer.
We’re not driven in a fancy van or some four-wheel vehicle (not that I wouldn’t mind that). We’re picked up in a large golf cart and are taken to our destinations. I like the fact that the CSOs pick us up and drop us off at our cars; I have to say, I feel safe knowing that someone can escort my sister and me to the car.
I feel secure in knowing that the service is here for students to use. It’s nice to see that students have the option to be driven to their cars and not have to worry about what might be lurking in the shadows.
Besides, once we’re dropped off, we just have to drive home.
Julie Sparkuhl is a senior journalism major and a business assistant for the Daily Forty-Niner.
