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Molly Milroy | The Appalachian
David Cook signals an operator via radio during his shift with Mountaineer Escort. |
On board 262-RIDE
by Amanda Fowler
Staff Writer
Daniel Cook drives the Mountaineer Escort van to Cone Residence Hall. Five girls hop in on their way across campus.
“Hi Daniel,” they all say enthusiastically. “How’s your day?”
Cook, who has worked for Mountaineer Escort on and off for over three years, said that getting to know people is his favorite part of the job.
“I’m a people person so I like meeting new people,” Cook said. “You probably meet two dozen new people every night you drive and then you’ve got the regulars at the same time. People know you on a first name basis.”
Being able to carry on conversation with passengers keeps Cook going. Although he has to be the one to start the conversation at times, Cook finds that the overwhelming majority of passengers are friendly. He said it is very rare that he finds a rude person.
Any job dealing with the public can have its interesting moments and Cook’s is no different.
People’s conservative nature makes Cook privy to a lot of otherwise private information. Just because students are on the Mountaineer Escort van does not mean their other conversations stop.
Cook said many students tell their life story or vent about their problems and ask for advice.
Cook said he has experienced being in the middle of relationship problems numerous times. When couples ride the van together, their arguments do not stop at the door.
Cook has been present during couple’s scuffles that can at times become heated.
“A lot of the times I try to say ‘Ya’ll calm down,’ without stepping too far out of my place,” Cook said.
Cook is also forced to overhear a lot of phone conversations held on his van.
He said he hears conversations where people complain about a friend, then he sees that same person get on the van later with the friend.
Apart from the periodic rude rider and relationship issues, Cook enjoys what he does. His enthusiasm for his work is apparent as he warmly greets passengers when they enter the van and wishes them a good night upon exit.
However, an easy-going nature is almost a job requirement when remembering pick-ups, drop-offs and listening to the radio that is used to communicate information between Mountaineer Escort’s base and drivers.
“You have to be able to multitask,” Cook said.
Though the job can be stressful at times, Cook said he always works his hardest to cater to the needs of his passengers. He understands that Mountaineer Escort is a vital service to the working of Appalachian’s campus.
“Mountaineer Escort was started as a safety service,” Cook said. Cook understands that safety is the biggest requirement of the job, and therefore takes his job very seriously.
He knows students use the service because many do not feel comfortable walking across campus at night or waiting around dark off-campus parking lots where they park their cars.
Some students misuse the escort service, he said.
It’s hard to take students from their residence hall to the cafeteria when there is a student waiting in an off-campus parking lot, Cook said.
There is also a common misconception that Mountaineer Escort gets a lot of intoxicated passengers. Cook said this happens less frequently than one might imagine, but when it does happen it ties back into the safety aspect of escort.
“There a quite a few intoxicated students who get on, especially during the weekends and on Thursday night,” Cook said. “I’m glad they’re riding the escort van instead of driving somewhere.”
Cook said that he is busiest Sunday through Thursday with students taking their cars back to off-campus lots and needing a ride back to their dorms. On weekends, when students can park their cars on campus, his business trails off.
Even when the escort service gets backed up, the drivers and dispatcher work well together to ensure that no student has to wait an extended period of time.
At the busiest peak, Cook said a passenger may only have to wait 15-20 minutes at the longest.
“You have to be willing to work,” Cook said of driving Mountaineer Escort. “But it’s fun.”
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