STRIPES effort still awaiting approval

UM system officials must approve letting 18-year-olds drive for STRIPES.

By Catherine Rolfe

Published Dec. 5, 2008

After more than two months, MU's safe-ride program STRIPES still awaits the signatures needed to lower the driving age for their volunteers.

The initiative must still be approved by UM system administrators in the department of Business Services, STRIPES Executive Director Domingo Pacheco said.

"It's actually the same spot we've been in for almost 10 weeks now," Pacheco said. "It's not a complicated matter, but they're just not signing on the dotted line for some reason."

Business Services Associate Director Lisa Wimmenauer has not yet signed. She was unavailable for comment.

STRIPES is a student-run organization which offers students a safe ride home in an effort to combat drunken driving. STRIPES uses Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which will not allow the program to use drivers who are under 21. Pacheco has been working with Avis Rent A Car to allow STRIPES to use drivers under 21.

Pacheco said lowering the driving age would greatly change the way STRIPES runs on campus.

"We would be going overnight from six cars, on a good night, to eight," Pacheco said. "Also, wait times are going to go down dramatically."

After some earlier inaction in Business Services, the Access to Alcohol Action Team committee drafted a letter of support for STRIPES' motion, in order to expedite the process.

"I think that there's tremendous advantage in increasing the number of volunteers," said Wellness Resource Center Assistant Director Kim Dude, who is also a member of the committee. "I think that there would be a lot more cars and more lives could potentially be saved."

Dude said she tries to promote STRIPES as much as possible.

"I think it is honestly the single best thing MSA's ever done," Dude said.

Adam Duncan, another committee member and a crime prevention officer with the MU Police Department, also supports STRIPES' move.

"They've done all sorts of really good prep work to set this up, and because of that, I don't see any problem with making that age 18," Duncan said.

Nationally, some institutions have dealt with the perception that colleges and universities are supporting underage drinking by being affiliated with safe ride programs like STRIPES. This issue is less problematic at MU.

"STRIPES doesn't just serve underage drivers," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said. "We've got students under 21 and over 21 that use it. It's just another way to keep our students safe."

Hatch residence hall Coordinator Joanna Davis, who is another member of Access to Alcohol, agreed.

"Not everyone who uses STRIPES chooses to drink that evening," Davis said. "But it is a way for them to safely get home from whatever event that they were at."

Despite widespread approval for the measure from the administration, STRIPES is still waiting for signatures.

"It's not because of any external factor," Pacheco said. "They can clearly resolve it with the stroke of a pen."