Over the years, Project Saferide has been criticized for its women-only driving and riding policy. The federal Office of Civil Rights recently found the program in violation of Title IX, and University President Dave Frohnmayer recently signed an agreement to be in compliance with the law by March 29, 2002. Title IX is a 1972 federal law that does not allow discrimination based on sex in University programs that receive federal financial assistance, and ironically, it was created to help women gain equality in sports and academic programs.
Saferide must address this violation of Title IX. The program has a few options: The University could establish a separate program just for men, Saferide could move to coed vans, or the program could add to its current service an additional van driven by men for male riders only. We favor the latter. Adding male-only vans to Saferide would make the program in compliance with the law, and it wouldn’t establish an additional program, which could be potentially troublesome if construed as “separate but equal.” Additionally, men on campus would have an opportunity to ride safely as their female counterparts have done for years.
We’re glad Saferide exists. Creating a shuttle service for those who feel unsafe is both noble and supportive of women taking a stand against potential violence. However, there are many men who do not feel safe on campus, and they have the right to enjoy the same benefits as women.
We do, however, believe in women-only vans. The vans should remain segregated because the purpose of the program is to offer women an alternative to walking alone at night and risking sexual assault; allowing men in the van could counteract Saferide’s efforts by removing the women-only space that makes riders feel protected.
The University should be commended for promising to find a solution to the discrimination by spring. Creating a shuttle strictly for men as a subsidiary of Saferide is the best option if the project wants to continue to use federal funds. The project should recognize men are vulnerable to sexual assault and violence, just like women.
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