Crossing guards on duty at Purdue

WEST LAFYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - You've seen crossing guards for elementary and grade schoolers, but, believe it or not, now college students will also have the same safety service.

For every problem there is a solution, but crossing guards at the collegiate level surprised some.

Graduate student Jonathon Trzupek said he supports the job creation behind the Pedestrian Safety Advocates (PSAs), but that's about all.

"Personally I think it's embarrassing because we are grown adults now. When I was in undergrad and we didn't have the yield sign, it was pretty obvious you don't take the right of way from cars. And now people just... I mean, they are on their iPods and they are walking and jamming across the street, and then they get hit," said Trzupek.

Purdue Police Captain of special services Eric Chin said hiring PSAs is the university's way of keeping students safe after several pedestrians and bicyclists have been hit by cars this fall.

"We scheduled them for the peak hours of the university. They are scheduled to be out here from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.," said Chin.

The university has hired 18 PSAs for $7.25 an hour and they will be here on weekdays till October 11, which is when the university's fall break is scheduled. The system is going to be re-evaluated at that time.

Kimberly Branch is one of the 18 PSAs. She said her day started off slowly.

"People have been asking me if I'm getting paid, being a crosswalk (guard). And some people have asked, 'Why are you doing this?' Or saying to me, 'I can't believe they are hiring crosswalk people,'" said Branch.

Branch added she was not surprised about the job opening because she had heard about the numerous car-pedestrian accidents.

Those accidents are the main reason why some students said guards are needed.

"I think they are needed because people walk through and they won't pay attention," said student Megan Collins.