I am fortunate to be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I'm lucky I can attend a top-rate college and receive a good education for the money I have yet to earn in life. This university has everything: nationally-renowned athletic teams, helpful professors who want to help their students and a free ride service.
Unfortunately, the third item on the list leaves a lot to be desired.
When I heard about 475-RIDE at New Student Enrollment, I brushed it off as something useless to me. I'm not stupid enough to walk around campus alone late at night, and I don't drink. The idea of needing to call for a ride at any time was ridiculous.
That changed two weeks ago. Some friends of mine came down to see a concert on Saturday night at Pershing Auditorium. One of my friends had hurt her ankle during the day, and after holding our own in a swaying crowd and pushing her way closer to the band, she was limping.
We were all staying in my dorm that weekend. Rather than have my friend limp several blocks back to the dorm, I decided to call the phone number and ask for a ride back to the dorm.
During the first call, I was put on hold. Then the line went dead. Slightly confused and annoyed, I called back and was promptly put on hold for a second time. After several minutes of waiting to talk to a human being, my friend got fed up and decided to heck with waiting for a ride - she was walking back to the dorm.
I'm not the only person who has waited for rides. Girls on my floor have waited for 20 minutes to be picked up late at night from across campus. Why the wait?
Don't get me wrong. I realize how lucky we are at this university to even have the option of calling for a free ride whenever needed. I'm even more grateful given the fact that we pay for this service out of our student fees.
But waiting 20 minutes for a ride? Being put on hold? Should that even be happening?
I understand that some nights may be busier than others for the ride service. But some changes should be made to make the service more efficient and available for students on campus, including more vans, more phone operators if needed and faster service. When a late-night call is made, students shouldn't have to wait to be helped.
Joanna Crowl is a freshman history major. She can be reached at: joannacrowl@dailynebraskan.com
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