For some students, a lunch at the Goldstein Alumni & Faculty Center is now the cost of a safety tip.

‘As long as someone has a good idea or something that might be helpful to other students and the way we do our business, then I’d be happy to pay for their lunch,’ Department of Public Safety Chief Tony Callisto said.

The DPS Lunch with the Chief program was announced late last week on its website, and the first student to participate contacted DPS on Monday, said DPS Public Information Officer Jennifer Horvath. The student, who DPS could not identify, will be having lunch with Callisto in about a week and a half.

The program invites any student with an idea or concern for DPS to meet Callisto in the Goldstein Alumni & Faculty Center for a lunch of his or her choosing, paid for by Callisto.

Students interested in the program should e-mail Lt. Jill Lentz with their name, SUID number, phone number and three possible times to meet with Callisto for lunch. They do not have to propose their idea beforehand, but Callisto said he hopes it would be a thoughtful and helpful comment about safety on campus.

Callisto said students already contact DPS about a variety of concerns, but this will add an opportunity to talk face-to-face. DPS is already available to receive comments or criticism via e-mail or in person at the DPS office.

‘A lot of what we’ve done at DPS over the last five years has been as a result of conversations with students, has been initiatives put forth by the Student Association, information and ideas we might otherwise not get,’ he said.

Callisto said the program was not created because of a heightened concern for student safety. Year-to-date incidents compared to the last three years have actually seen significant decreases, he said. SU has seen eight serious incidents, such as robbery, assault and burglary, so far this year. Around the same time one year ago, that number was at 12, and two years ago at 24, he said.

The program has been in the works since the summer when Callisto first brought it up, Horvath said.

‘It’s another way to get student feedback,’ she said. ‘We want to know what we can do better.’

The program is expected to continue if the first semester is a success.

‘Especially if we’re getting good feedback, it’s definitely something we’d like to continue,’ Horvath said.

Emmanuel Fort-Diaz, sophomore biology major, said he did not have time to go for lunch with Callisto, but he could see other students who have more free time going. Fort-Diaz said if he needed to contact DPS, he would probably do so via e-mail.

Fort-Diaz said he is concerned with the DPS shuttle service, as he said there were times last year when students needed a ride and could not get one.

‘It’s important,’ he said about students voicing their concerns to DPS. ‘There have been times DPS slacked a little last year.’

dkmcbrid@syr.edu

Published on September 28, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride