As college students pour into USC for the start of the semester, many also head to Five Points every weekend. With the semester and football season in full swing, local officials are trying to ensure that every student feels safe during their time downtown.
“We kinda make sure they rein it in a little bit,” Columbia Police Department Cpl. John Myers said. “Make sure that they don’t put themselves in any danger, and just basically try and get out and talk with them so that they know we’re here and if they need anything that we’re here for them.”
Myers said this kind of activity isn't unusual for this time of year.
“We do it every year at the beginning of the semester since we have such a large influx of people coming in, a lot of them from out of state, to kinda show presence, give a little bit of safety for when they come out, plus be able to educate them on the laws for South Carolina and what you can and cannot do,” Myers said.
Every year the Columbia Police Department amplifies its presence, but this year there are plans to keep the larger numbers at least through the end of football season.
“We do it a little bit bigger during the beginning of the semester, but it'll continue throughout with little bit larger numbers than we do normally through the year and it’s just due to football games and all that we’ll have a larger increase just because the amount of people ... requires it to make sure we can cover everything as needed,” Myers said.
In addition to a larger police presence, the university's late-night shuttle system has been adjusted so students are only picked up in one area. Uber, Lyft and RideShare are also asked to park at 2100 Santee Ave. with the shuttles.
“I mean, if an Uber or a Lyft wants to pull into a parking lot or a parking space it’s fine. We’re just trying to keep them from parking or stopping in the middle of the road,” Myers said. “It’s a hazard for both the vehicles and the people getting in and out of the cars. So having a centralized location just kind of helps that.”
Having shuttles in Five Points for the weekend is something students say they are thankful for, since Uber could be too expensive for a student and it could be dangerous to walk to their apartment or residence hall.
“I like it,” said fourth-year business management student Trevor Hughes. “Whenever I’m drunk and need a ride home I always hop on the shuttle.”
Although students like Hughes are fans of the shuttle, some like Breakers Bar & Grill employee Michael Lartfan expressed concern about the safety of inebriated people trying to get to the designated pick-up space.
“If you’re going to help people, making it harder to get to a place where they can be safe ... I don’t think it helps them. I think it hurts them,” Lartfan said. “I think they’ll end up making more people get in trouble for being drunk in public if they’re trying to get to a shuttle.”
The upgrade in security is something that USC, Columbia and the Columbia Police Department hope will keep students safer so that they can return to class after the weekend ready to learn.
“Have fun, and be safe, basically,” Myers said. “And if they ever need anything, we’re here.”