The Michigan Daily-- Friday, September 12, 1986 - Page 3 Escort service to begin soon By WENDY SHARP Organizers of Safewalk, the University's new campus-wide escort service, last night interviewed 52 students interested in working for the program. The service will begin on Sept. 28 and will be located on the first floor of the Undergraduate Library. Students will call a dispatcher, and an escort team, wearing orange vests and IDs, will accompany them wherever they need to go. Safewalk is an expansion of last year's pilot program that served West Quad, Betsey Barbour, and Helen Newberry residence halls. LSA sophomore Michelle Missaghieh, one of the coordinators of Safewalk, said last year's program was successful, but "campus-wide escort service was our goal." The purpose of Safewalk is not just to walk students home from the library, but also for weeknight trips to the bar or visiting friends across' campus, Simon said. "It's for absolutely for any reason and absolutely any person," she said. The service will operate Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. After 2, campus security will drive students where they need to go in an emergency, said Leo Heatley, the University's director of safety. Escort applicants will be chosen partly on the basis of last night's group interview, where they were read a story about gender relationships. They will be judged on how well they articulate their views on sexual relations, whether they appear condescending, and what sort of eye contact they make with other group members, according to LSA senior Amy Simon, a coordinator of the program. Before the interviews, the applicants had to certify that they have never been arrested for sexual assault, assault, or sexual harassment, Simon said. Escort teams will consist of either two females or one male and one female, Simon said, because the team escort system has worked best at other colleges. Having at least one woman on each team will reduce the possibility of an escort assaulting a female student-an incident that occurred at a small eastern college, Simon said. Simon said another reason team escorts will be used is to dispel the notion that men are the only ones who can protect women. "There's a great problem with nighttime security, and as a woman, sometimes I feel a bit worried about walking by myself," said Debbie Applebaum, an LSA junior. "Sometimes people can feel uncomfortable walking alone at night," Simon said. "It's a community response to a community problem." Simon said the safety programs at the University are far behind those of other universities. Harvard University and the University of Wisconsin, for instance, have car escort services, Simon said. She added that a campus-wide escort service was not implemented sooner because students found it difficult to break through campus bureaucracy and the University administration "just didn't know that sexual assault was a problem." Vice President for Student Services Henry Johnson said the administration wants to help the escort service in any way it can. "We have a responsibility to assist and advise them," he said. The service is being funded by the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Housing Security, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, the Undergraduate Library, the Michigan Student Assembly, and the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan. DURACELL _____________Batteries AAA4-Saver Pack Special Sale $2.29each Daily Photo by ANDI SCHREIBER Soggy encounter Emily Awckland and Jennifer Yanover, LSA juniors, have a reunion yesterday after not seeing each other all summer. ion utprofsal approved for Hill FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH/ AMERICAN BAPTIST CAMPUS CENTER INVITES ALL STUDENTS WEDNESDAY SUNDAYS By MARC CARREL A proposed plan to expand the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation's activities building by almost 14,000 square feet has received the unanimous approval of the Ann Arbor Planning Commision. The proposed expansion would increase the building's space by two thirds to provide "more room for classrooms, religious services, and office space for more than 20 student organizations affiliated with Hillel," said Michael Brooks, the director of the University's largest Jewish student group. THE EXPANSION PLAN was endorsed by a local neighborhood organization which in the past has opposed general expansion in the area. In a letter written to the Ann Arbor Planning Department, the North Burns Park Association wrote that the renovation would be an improvement for Hillel and the neighborhood. The letter added that Hillel will not put any more strain on neighborhood facilities because the building will not be used any more than it is now. 5:30 - 7:00, Student Supper (complimentary) 9:55 - Worship 11:15 - Student Brunch (undergraduates) Come and get acquainted with one another, our program and opportunities for service and growth. - Young Adult Fellowship (graduate students) "Discovering Yourself" led by Chuck Lindquist TRANSPORTATION ON SUNDAY: Murfin and N. Campus Blvd. at 9:40 Alice Lloyd Hall at 9:45 State and University at 9:50 The church and center are located on Huron between State and Division. Across from Campus Inn on Huron and Tally Hall on Washington. 663-9376 INTERNATIONAL - INTERRACIAL DURACELL. WE NEVERSTO Wecarrya complete lineof Photo Batteries PHOTO PROCESSING LAB PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS STOCKHOUSE in the Michigan Union! 994-0433 'Hillael wants expand and en- hance the services we provide.' -Michael Brooks Hillel director 'ULLEL WANTS to expand to enhance the services we provide," Brooks said. "The building was built in 1950 and is woefully inadequate in all areas." He said the renovation would make the entire building accessible to wheelchairs. The proposal will now go before the Zoning Board of Appeals, which must approve four variances from the city's building code, including too few parking spaces. Hillel is expected to go before the board Sept. 17 to request these variances. "Hillel has never contributed to the severe intensity of land use problems in our neighborhood," the letter said. Donna Richter, the co-chair of the Association's Planning Commission, said, "We appreciate that Hillel consulted with the neighborhood early on and is willing to ease any problems. They've been very good neighbors." Concerning the parkin, problem, another member of the North Burns park Association's Planning Commission said, "Neighbors feel that Hillel never causes any kind of a parking problem, and (the proposed expansion) won't add to neighborhood parking problems." Brooks agreed, saying that "the overwhelming majority of people our building serves walk, bike, or take the University night owl service." W4 iow . y., 1. T L I I What's happening around Ann Arbor Friday Films "Head"-7,8:40,10:15 pm, MLB 3. "Brazil"-7,9:30 pm, Aud. A. "Witness"-7:15,9:30 pm, MLB 4. "The Big Sleep"-7:30 pm,. Nat Sci. "The Maltese Falcon"-9:30 p, Nat Sci. Speakers Phyllis Engelbe rt- "Nicaragua Report," noon, Guild House. Meetings Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies- nnAn house. 144 Lane Hall, 4 A. "What's Up Tiger Lily?"- 8:30,10 pm, Hill St. "Caligula"-6:40, 9:25 pm, *MLB 4. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"-7,8:40, 10:20 pm, MLB 3. "Blade Runner"-7:15, 9:30 pm, Nat Sci. Meetings Psi Upsilon Volleyball Tournament-1000 Hill, 10 am. Puerto Rican Welcome Party-Trotter House, 7 pm. Rockclimbing Trip to Grand Ledge, MI.call 764-3967.