FRIDAY,OCT.12,2001
HILLTOPICS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7A
SAFERIDE'S SIDE
Employees of the popular shuttle service defend its value to the sober and the sloshed — and a Kansan reporter sees things for herself. Story by Sarah Zaman
Patrick Harper, Mankato senior and Saferide driver, picks up Shenna Englem (middle), Chicago freshman and Rory Flynn (left), St. Louis freshman, from the Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St., Wednesday night. Drivers said it could be tough to work late nights.
A SAFE PURPOSE
After three phone calls and an interview, Wayne Pope's hesitation melted into pride.
"Everybody thinks Saferide is a tipsy taxi, but that's not the purpose of it," he said.
Owner of the Lawrence Bus Company, Pope took over Saferide from a taxi service in 1993. The service offers students daily transportation to their homes from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
"When I was young, there was no one to provide a designated driver. You just took your chances," Pope said. "Yes, we drive people from parties, but we also give people rides late at night so they do not have to walk."
But some students abuse
Saferide, Pope said.
"We're providing a service. You got a rule and you try to break it," he said. "That is what college is about. I understand that. But I won't put up with loud, inebridated students bothering my drivers."
Butthrowing is not much of a problem, said Glenn Stottlemi, night supervisor.
“Fortunately, this year we’ve only had three people puke,” he said. Sometimes the drivers clean it up, but “once in a while, I clean up the puke. It’s good for morale.” Stottlemire said.
Gregor Brune, Saferide driver, said riders were usually kind.
for you next time.' Then you never see them again.'
"I've never had a belligent drunk," he said. "They're usually pretty happy and say things like, 'You're my favorite Saferide driver. I'm going to ask
Sandra McCann, who receives calls and assigns drivers to a destination, said callers generally were courteous when she spoke to them.
"I've only been cussed out twice," she said.
Greg Smith, Saferide driver,
said his job was better when
people showed gratitude.
Then "you don't mind the late night and the tired days," he said.
Glenn Stottlemire (right), night supervisor for the Lawrence Bus Company, and Greg Smith (left), Kansas City, Kan., senior and Safe Ride driver, discuss their strategy before beginning the night shift. Saferide uses two to seven cars each night.
By the time Saferide drivers head home at 3.30 a.m., sleep becomes a valuable commodity.
"I wake up at 8, and usually catch naps in Anschutz between classes," Smith said. He works three consecutive nights a week and compares his work schedule to having jet lag.
"Tuesday is worst because I have to get readjusted," he said. "I'm OK. I drink a couple of Cokes. You get used to it. It's cramming life between school."
Brune works five nights a week, has a day job and attends class on Tuesdays.
"I'm starting to feel a little burned out, and thinking about being a bus driver instead," he said.
For Stottlemire, sleep is a three-hour event from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
p.m.
"I have a 9-month baby," he explained. "My wife works days and I work nights. This way, we don't have to worry about day care. I never thought I would be able to work like this, but you have to do what
EN-KAE CHANG/KANSAN
you have to do.
"You know the saying,
'Necessity is the mother of invention.' Well, I like to say,
'Necessity is the mother of ability'
he said.
REPORTER RIDE-ALONG
Saferide drivers convene and disperse every night to lead the vagrant and grocery sack-toting to the safety of their abodes. Because Saferide is so popular Thursday through Saturday nights, I was granted a ride-along on a less, uh, traditionally happenin' evening.
11:05 p.m. — Arrive at base, also known as the Kansas Union. Pat Benatar plays quietly in the background, and the sound of static crackles on the driver's radio. It's magical.
11:09 p.m. — Our first call.
An overworked computer science major waits outside Budig Hall. I can see the relief in his
eyes. The ride home to Colony Woods is silent. At 11:19 p.m., our student arrives homes safely. We return to base.
10:50 p.m. — Troops sign in.
Car fluids are checked, brows are wiped and pep talks are given. Finally they leave one by one, but unified in spirit.
11:27 p.m. —The dudes at Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St. can't find a way home. We pull up to hordes of people waiting in line. Three bored and cursing girls jump in. Five minutes later, we arrive at Naismith.
11:45 p.m. — Back at Cadillac Ranch. The line to get inside the Ranch is even longer This time, no one shows. I'm beginning to feel the love dwindling. We return to base.
12:03 a.m. — Arrive at the ominous-looking Eldridge Hotel. Peggy's too cold to ride her moped. We discuss Jim Morrison and rock stars all the way home.
As she exits the car, Peggy shows me the correlation between women and rock stars. "If you can't beat 'em, sleep with them." It's power, she says. I'm not feeling the magic anymore.
12:17 a.m. — Back at base, the night is slow. The drivers reconvene. We discuss the meaning of life and how to change majors. It's time to go to bed, but there's two hours left.
12:46 a.m. — Arrive at Dillons. Two quiet boys climb in with groceries. They mutter "Tanglewood" and sit in silence all the way home. Back to base, the night is young.
girls climb in. "It's like Taxi Cab Confessions," they say while watching me take notes.
3:30 a.m. — Cars refueled at Total and everyone heads home. Safely, of course.
1:45 a.m. — Cadillac Ranch lets loose the herds. Two tipsy
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War, Morality, and Deception An Auschwitz Perspective with Rudolf Vrba
The Hall Center for the Humanities presents
Tuesday, October 16, 8:00 p.m. Spencer Museum Auditorium
Vrba co-wrote the Auschwitz Report with Alfred Wetzler. The report was the earliest account to describe in detail the mass murders in the gas chambers in Auschwitz.Today Vrba is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.
For more information contact the Hall Center at 864-4798. www.hallcenter.ku.edu
This event is co-sponsored by the Max Kade Center, the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, the Center for European Studies, the Humanities and Western Civilization Program, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Hillel Foundation.