Candice Jones left The University of Memphis library after dark one night last week. She called the Tiger Patrol for an escort to her car on Southern and waited outside for them to arrive. She waited for 45 minutes and called back. The patrolman answered and said, "I didn't see you."
"Well I'm here, can you come back," said the junior paralegal major."Hell no, it's cold," the patrolman responded.
After the attack on an art graduate student in the Central lot and the armed attempted robbery in the lot near the intersection at Zach Curlin Street and Central Avenue, two public safety alerts have been released. Students have responded to the reports and alerts with calls to Tiger Patrol for escorts.
Even students that have not tried to use the escort are considering it.
"I've never used it, but I'm thinking about it," said Courtney White, a U of M junior. "It's in the news and I'm getting calls at night from my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother."
The number of calls have increased dramatically, said Derek Myers, Deputy Director of Public Safety.
"It's quadrupled or better," he said. "They've done 80 escorts an evening."
Many students feel that the patrols should increase their visibility on campus.
"It'd be great if they were out here ,more especially after the attacks," said Lindsey Wetmore, a graduate student of the anthropology department. As a graduate student, she is often on campus late and said students walk in pairs. Still, she would like more visible patrols around campus. "I've still never even seen them. I don't know what they look like or if they have uniforms."
Other students have complained that after calling Tiger Patrol, the long wait feels more dangerous than going without an escort.
"I called from the library, but it was cold and took so long finally I left," said Melissa Hinnelwright, a resident of Rawls.
Some students said that the patrols don't have the manpower to escort people in this situation.
"Basically, I heard they don't have enough people to escort you to your car," said Anna Hinnenkamp, an art department graduate student who often stays late to work.
"College campuses are prey for people like that. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more," she said. "A place of higher learning should be safe."
A fellow art student, Meredith Kroll said she carries mace and a knife in case she's attacked.
"I'm from L.A., and I think Memphis is scarier," she said.Deputy Director Myers said he hasn't heard recent complaints and those complaints should be made to the campus police. He said staff was not a problem.
"We have extra people on every shift to deal with this," he said,."We've reiterated that if Tiger Patrol needs help, to transfer the calls here."
The patrols can fit three people with the driver, Myers said. The patrolmen also have instructions to escort each person all the way to their vehicle.
Not all students have had a problem with the patrols.
"When I call them, they come and are very nice," said freshman Kelly Scott.
If there are problems, students can contact the campus police instead of the Tiger Patrol.
"They need to let us know if there are problems," said Myers. "They can call 4357, and we'll take care of it immediately." Tiger Patrol, 678-HOME, is available from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.
