After prolonged talks and almost finding a possible resolution, Tulane University’s Undergraduate Student Government has elected not to partner with Loyola in the SafeRide program.

“Tulane has not pulled the plug on the SafeRide Program, but has turned off the electricity,” a Loyola Student Government Association press release said.

Many are disappointed with the result. Both SGA and Student Affairs had faith that a compromise would be made. The next step is for Loyola to develop a similar program that will replace the Tulane Program.

“I would have liked to have done that (SafeRide), it was convenient,” Jim Eisemen, vice president of Student Affairs, said. “I liked the program, but now we’ll have to do it ourselves.

Anna Hall, SGA president and music business senior, during a Congress meeting Tues. vowed to find another way to start a program and said that she would like to have it implemented within a month.

Jim Eisemen said that Student Affairs will be talking to all kinds of people, looking at all the alternatives and talking about how to make it work.

“There’s a whole range of things we need to talk about,” Eisemen said.Before the program can start, it has to go through Rick Bell, Loyola’s Risk Manager.

One of his duties is to manage Loyola’s legal services, to assure that the university’s legal council is involved in the review of the agreement and that they are representing Loyola appropriately.

“As risk manager, my primary concerns are for the safety and well being of Loyola’s students and for the protection of Loyola University from undue legal liability,” Bell said.

“Although I have not done a full risk analysis of the SafeRide Program, I think the concept is a great one,” Bell said. “I think it is prudent to hire professional drivers when routine driving is to be done. It could be a great way to help protect our students during the evening hours, he said.”