By Baylee Pulliam
The little glowing clock on the dashboard blinks 9:32 p.m., as sophomore history major Andrew Schulte picks up his next passenger. It’s only three and a half hours into his shift and this is already his 13th call of the night.
“It’s generally like this,” said Schulte, speaking of his three semesters as a driver for the University of Louisville’s escort service. “Every night’s different, but I’m usually pretty busy.”
With temperatures outside dropping, however, he’s found himself busier than ever.
“It gets cold outside and a lot of people don’t want to walk,” said Schulte. “Then the calls really start to come in.”
Lt. Colonel Kenny Brown, assistant chief of the U of L Department of Public Safety, agreed with Schulte, saying that this is an active time of year for the escort service.
“We got 4,283 calls for escorts last year, roughly 357 a month,” said Brown. “But that number definitely goes up in the winter season.”
Each night there are only two drivers on duty: one for the police department and one for parking. That means some serious driving for each. Tonight, Andrew Schulte is driving.
Schulte doesn’t mind the activity, though. He does all he can to make his passengers feel more comfortable. In sharp contrast to the frigid temperatures outside, he keeps the heater at what is easily above 85 degrees. And although he would prefer country music, he spends his typical four and a half hour shift listening to the music of Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers. To Schulte, all the sacrifices are worth it. He said the point is to “make the students feel more comfortable using the escort service.” He also seeks to make them feel safer.
According to many of his passengers, it works.
“It definitely makes me feels safer,” said graduate teaching assistant Srinivas Beeram, the 11th passenger of the night. “I do late labs on campus and I call them frequently.”
A female student who uses the service agreed. “I’m scared to be on campus when it’s dark out,” she said. “I call if I have to stay late.”
In his three semesters as an escort, Schulte has seen a lot. He’s had lots of passengers almost every night and had his car filled beyond capacity on a few occasions. He has even been photographed by a gaggle of girls as part of a late-night scavenger hunt. From his experience, he offers this advice: “Be careful walking at night. Be aware of your surroundings and remember that the escort service is free, so don’t be afraid to call it.”
Schulte spends most of the night driving around the areas of campus where student traffic is the highest, just in case he is needed. He advises students not to be afraid to come up to the car. “If you want a ride, just ask.”
For students, it is better to be safe than sorry. “Crime is up in this area of town,” said Colonel Wayne Hall, chief of police and director of public safety for DPS, in a 2009 press release.
To obtain an escort, call the university police at (502) 852-6111. The service operates from dusk to dawn every night, starting at around 6 p.m.
