Charlatan reporter Phelisha Cassup went on a “ride-a-long” with Carleton’s Foot Patrol and reported on their Guardian Program during the Capital Hoops Classic.
While some students hit the courts and bleachers for the Capital Hoops Classic on Feb. 6, others laced up as members of Carleton’s Guardian Program for one of their most chaotic nights of the year.
This year’s game is the program’s second time facilitating the basketball event. The program launched in February 2014 under Foot Patrol, a Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) service centre.
Craig Handy, Foot Patrol’s administrative co-ordinator, said the Guardians were more prepared this year than in the past and this was their time to shine.
The night began with a team meeting, where each member received a role and was given a clear overview of the night.
Handy was keen on ensuring everyone was aware of tonight’s goal—to stay true to the acronym that was the foundation of the program. “A.E.G.I.S.T.,” he said, “stands for Assurance, Education, Guidance, Inclusion, and Support.”
Each letter has its own unique meaning but Handy is most proud of the inclusion aspect.
“Inclusion has two parts. The first is that no matter who you are or the disabilities you may have there is a spot for you on our team. The second is that no matter the circumstance if you need to get somewhere, we will get you there,” he said.
By 5 p.m. the first 20 buses were lined up—a total of 36 went to and from the game that night—and the team began loading students on the busses as efficiently as they could amongst the chaos, first-year Guardian Smit Patel said.
“There was no way we could have anticipated this volume of people, but we are doing the best with what we have,” Patel said.
Sean Smith, CUSA’s vice-president (student life)-elect said although there are some slight changes he would make to the program, “the program is getting better and better every year. And it is better than last year.”
While initially some students were concerned what role the Guardians would play, he said he wants to make it clear that they act as facilitators and are not policing in any way.
Their goal is to “be a shield of protection for civilians and to facilitate without aggression,” Handy said.
First-year student Taylor Hulley said this was her first time interacting with the Guardian Program and she felt safe and had fun.
“It’s crazy how fast they got so many people on so little buses and in a fair way,” she said.
Hulley had arrived around 6:30 p.m., after the implementation of the “front of the line” rule, which was to clearly establish a front of the line.
Once at the game, the Guardians set up a Mobile Control Centre where their main duty was to get students that were too intoxicated on taxis back to Carleton.
Although some students felt being sent home was unfair, Guardian Liam Callaghan said, “it’s the safest way to do things.”
One of the team’s highlights for the night, Callaghan said, was when he and another Guardian, Adam Muchmore, helped two lost children find their parents.
There was no similar student group from the University of Ottawa at the game, Handy said, so Carleton Guardians helped students of both schools find their way onto buses home.
Even one of the bus drivers praised the program’s organization and Handy’s “level head” amid the chaos.
A bus driver admitted he hadn’t seen so many intoxicated 19-year-olds in a single file line in a long time.
Overall, Handy said, he is proud of the work the Guardians did throughout the night, especially after seeing how far the program has come from when he and colleague Chris Tharby founded the program.
“Chris and I have put our hearts into this program, and it’s nice to see everything come together,” he said.
