Starting this Saturday, the Grand Valley State University Department of Public Safety will introduce the Safe Walk program. The service, offered seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., will provide individuals who feel uncomfortable or unsafe walking on campus during the night with someone to accompany them to or from their destination. The program will run in the fall and winter semesters, but not during the summer semester, as there are no night classes offered on campus at that time.

Safe Walk is similar to DPS’ old escort system, which ended several years ago due to lack of student use. Safe Walk will be staffed by building security students employed by DPS. The students’ other jobs include locking doors and helping to close down campus buildings at night.

Assistant Director of Public Safety Capt. Brandon DeHaan said DPS will hire additional students to help ensure that Safe Walk is fully staffed.

“This (program) affords an opportunity for additional student employment,” he said. “We will be adding students to this particular program, so we find value in that and being able to offer this program.”

However, DeHaan stressed that Safe Walk is “primarily a walking service” and that students will not be able to request vehicular transport with the program. He added that students walking at night can also call DPS dispatchers if they want someone to stay on the phone with them until they safely reach their destination.

Safe Walk request calls can be made by either an individual student or a pair. Any walking group with at least three members is not eligible to use the Safe Walk service.

“There is safety in numbers, so if there are three students or more, then safety is afforded in that situation,” DeHaan explained.

To request a Safe Walk, call Grand Valley Police Dispatch at (616) 331-3255.

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