Public Safety: don't forget S.N.A.P.
Public Safety is encouraging the campus community to take advantage of the Student Night Auxiliary Patrol (S.N.A.P.) to increase nighttime safety on campus.
"Basically S.N.A.P. is a security escort service," said Crime Prevention Officer Tyson Campbell. "We use golf carts to give people rides from one part of campus to the other."
Students must contact Public Safety to utilize the service.
"S.N.A.P. kids work generally from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday," said Campbell. "If students call Public Safety saying, 'I live in Parkhurst and I want to get to the library tonight,' or vice versa if they want to get back to Parkhurst, they can just call us and we will send S.N.A.P. to pick them up and give them a ride wherever they need to go."
S.N.A.P. workers will drive golf carts to all places on campus with the exception of Bobcat Village.
GC&SU students work for S.N.A.P. as a part time job and also for work experience.
"A lot of them have interest in law enforcement. Actually, the ones who turn out to be our best S.N.A.P. personnel have gone on to law enforcement," said Campbell. "One of my best friends did S.N.A.P. for Georgia College four years ago and now he is the Deputy in Richmond County."
Campbell said he thinks this service is important for different reasons.
"It's twofold. Most people that do call us are female and they are concerned about their safety. Also, we work as an extra set of eyes to patrol the campus," Campbell said.
Nathan Cohn, a junior Criminal Justice major, currently works for S.N.A.P.
"It's a friendly service but it needs more publicity," Cohn said, "I don't get a lot of calls at night."
Although Cohn may not be busy with calls during his shift, he said he has other duties.
"Another officer can't be everywhere at one time, especially places that aren't accessible by a car, so we drive around campus with our golf carts as well just to keep an eye out for anything suspicious," Cohn said.
"Basically S.N.A.P. is a security escort service," said Crime Prevention Officer Tyson Campbell. "We use golf carts to give people rides from one part of campus to the other."
Students must contact Public Safety to utilize the service.
"S.N.A.P. kids work generally from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday," said Campbell. "If students call Public Safety saying, 'I live in Parkhurst and I want to get to the library tonight,' or vice versa if they want to get back to Parkhurst, they can just call us and we will send S.N.A.P. to pick them up and give them a ride wherever they need to go."
S.N.A.P. workers will drive golf carts to all places on campus with the exception of Bobcat Village.
GC&SU students work for S.N.A.P. as a part time job and also for work experience.
"A lot of them have interest in law enforcement. Actually, the ones who turn out to be our best S.N.A.P. personnel have gone on to law enforcement," said Campbell. "One of my best friends did S.N.A.P. for Georgia College four years ago and now he is the Deputy in Richmond County."
Campbell said he thinks this service is important for different reasons.
"It's twofold. Most people that do call us are female and they are concerned about their safety. Also, we work as an extra set of eyes to patrol the campus," Campbell said.
Nathan Cohn, a junior Criminal Justice major, currently works for S.N.A.P.
"It's a friendly service but it needs more publicity," Cohn said, "I don't get a lot of calls at night."
Although Cohn may not be busy with calls during his shift, he said he has other duties.
"Another officer can't be everywhere at one time, especially places that aren't accessible by a car, so we drive around campus with our golf carts as well just to keep an eye out for anything suspicious," Cohn said.
S.N.A.P.'s hours of operation fluctuate depending on the night of the week and the time of year, said Ken Vance, director of Public Safety.
"This time of year, with it getting darker sooner, [students] use it more now. It's usually from the time it gets dark until about midnight. It will go to about 2 a.m. on Thursday night but generally it is over around midnight," Vance said.
S.N.A.P. was created in 1986, Vance said.
"I think as a whole it has been very successful over the years. Back in the 80s it received national recognition. It got on CNN back in 1986 or 87," Vance said. "It was brand new at the time. I don't think we were the only campus doing it, but I think we were doing it in such a way that it was unique. When it started, we had students come up with the idea of using roller blades because we didn't have the golf carts that we have now."
Vance said it is good this service has continued to exist at GC&SU.
"It enhances the safety of the students, faculty and staff on campus during the evening hours," Vance said.
Caroline Bagwell, a freshman Elementary Education major at GC&SU, has used S.N.A.P.
"I use the 'cart man' to ride from front campus to Foundation because I feel safer riding with someone than walking alone on campus at night," Bagwell said. "The service is very convenient. All I had to do was call and they were there right away."
For more information or to use the S.N.A.P., call Public Safety at (478)-445-4400.
"This time of year, with it getting darker sooner, [students] use it more now. It's usually from the time it gets dark until about midnight. It will go to about 2 a.m. on Thursday night but generally it is over around midnight," Vance said.
S.N.A.P. was created in 1986, Vance said.
"I think as a whole it has been very successful over the years. Back in the 80s it received national recognition. It got on CNN back in 1986 or 87," Vance said. "It was brand new at the time. I don't think we were the only campus doing it, but I think we were doing it in such a way that it was unique. When it started, we had students come up with the idea of using roller blades because we didn't have the golf carts that we have now."
Vance said it is good this service has continued to exist at GC&SU.
"It enhances the safety of the students, faculty and staff on campus during the evening hours," Vance said.
Caroline Bagwell, a freshman Elementary Education major at GC&SU, has used S.N.A.P.
"I use the 'cart man' to ride from front campus to Foundation because I feel safer riding with someone than walking alone on campus at night," Bagwell said. "The service is very convenient. All I had to do was call and they were there right away."
For more information or to use the S.N.A.P., call Public Safety at (478)-445-4400.
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