Walk Safe proves to be a positive step
On Saturday night, Rachel Barsky was stranded at Dundas Station - afraid to walk back to residence because of the blackout that was affecting the downtown core.
“I didn’t know what to do,” said the third-year Ryerson student. “It was pretty late and the street lights were out so it was even darker than usual, but I knew I couldn’t just stand there all night.”
Barsky then remembered she had the number for Walk Safe [a campus security-sponsored escort service] in her phone. She called Walk Safe, and five minutes later they arrived to make sure she got back to the ILLC residence safely.
Walk Safe, established by Ryerson Security, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Security guards escort students to and from various spots on and around campus, including Dundas subway station, the parking lots at Church and Dundas streets, and the new business building.
Students and faculty can request an escort by dialing extension 5040 or by pressing the yellow button on campus payphones.
Many students expressed relief that such a program exists at Ryerson. Sharon Diamond, a first-year radio and television arts student, said she was very satisfied with Walk Safe.
“I used it once, and they came to get me in about five minutes. I felt much safer having someone to walk with, and I would definitely call them again. It’s a great idea,” Diamond said.
Chris Beninger, the supervisor of Crime Prevention at Ryerson, said that Walk Safe is undoubtedly effective.
“Because the Ryerson campus is relatively close together, a security guard generally arrives within five minutes of getting a phone call,” Beninger said.
“In a given year, we have anywhere from 400 to 700 people that use Walk Safe.
Barsky said she has been using the program since her first year.
“I think it’s a great idea having something like this at Ryerson,” she said.
“Having someone walk me back Saturday night made me feel a lot safer. I hope this program continues long after I graduate [from] Ryerson, because you can never be too safe.”
Beninger agrees, saying that students should always be alert and aware of their surroundings, and that they must use common sense.
“If you’re walking and you see someone who looks suspicious, do not walk past them - turn around and find a safer route,” he said.
“You should always trust your judgement - that is one of the best things you can do.”