It has suffered through yearly budget cuts and even a major accident in April. But the Safety Escort Service is still rolling along in its 21st year of existence.
The SES budget of $44,766 was cut by more than $7,000 from last year and was approved by Associated Students of ASU senators last year.
Created by ASASU, it is currently under the Office of Campus Affairs.
ASASU Vice President of Campus Affairs, Andrew McKenna, said there are many programs his office runs, including SES, the bike co-op and student legal services, among others.
"Budget cuts affect the SES ability to bring on new staff and new paid positions if needed," McKenna said. "Our ability to fix carts and to advertise will also drop."
Currently, four out of six golf carts are under repair.
Paid positions at SES have also been affected.
Workers are now paid a salary instead of on an hourly basis, so working more hours does not increase their income.
Molecular biology junior and assistant director of SES, Patrick Whitney, said he had to take a huge pay-cut.
"Right now, we are making less than minimum wage." He added, "And this is for doing the campus a needed service."
Budget cuts have been felt in all areas of the SES, according to electrical engineering sophomore Rick Scallon, who is one of the base managers for SES.
"I know some positions here have taken pay cuts," Scallon said. "Last year, they said more money would be allotted, and now it seems we have even less."
Despite the lack in funding, McKenna said he would do his best at keeping the passengers safe and preventing any future accidents.
Last April, two volunteers and a passenger who were traveling at 15 miles per hour around a blind corner, swerved to avoid hitting a man in a wheelchair, and tipped the cart over in the process.
They then picked the cart up and proceeded to make the drop-off after confirming that the man in the wheelchair was not injured.
After they made the drop-off, the volunteers were approached by several police officers, who then closed the service for the rest of the night so the investigation could be completed.
Since then, screening changes have been made to avoid similar incidents.
"We have tests for the volunteers, and we also ask them what they are coming to do the community service for," McKenna said. "We have to judge by the person."
Volunteers now need to wait until their background check clears, which usually takes five working days. In the past, they would allow the volunteer to work until it cleared.
They also have to ride with a "lead," an experienced driver who has been certified by the program, before they are allowed to make pickups alone.
Scallon said he has seen one person turned away after a background check was done.
"He was here, volunteering all week, and when his background check came back, it turns out that he was doing community service because he stole golf carts," he said.
Reach the reporter at christina.viloria@asu.edu.
