By Nichelle Jaeger
Now in it’s eleventh year, CARPOOL runs like a well-oiled machine. The 40 plus student volunteers donate their Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to give Aggies a free, non judgmental ride home between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Texas A&M provides the student organization use of the Schmidt House to act as the dispatch center and Enterprise Rent a Car provides the vehicles used to pick students up.
When an Aggie calls into CARPOOL dispatch, the student operator takes down the necessary information, including what the caller is wearing, name and location. Then two students, one male and one female hit the road. CARPOOL is a one-way service, meaning the volunteers will only take the patrons home. This also means they will only pick students up once on any given night. On average, CARPOOL provides a safe mode of transportation home for over 200 Aggies a night.
Their lime green shirts and catchy car logos can be spotted on Northgate and at many other popular dance halls and bars offering rides as the establishments are closing. CARPOOL is not just for students who have been drinking; it is also a safe way home if a student finds them self in a situation where they simply need a ride home.
With a quick phone call to the number located on the back of your student ID you can get home safely. This student organization has been recognized nationally for the service it provides to Bryan/College Station. Most importantly, however, they have already made our streets a safer place by providing rides to over 168,000 students.
This unique group was founded by Jeff Schiefelbein ’00, who was the recipient of a DWI after a night of drinking without a safe ride home. After 60 hours of community service, 18 months of probation and a suspended license, Schiefelbein chose to make a positive difference for fellow Aggies. In September 1999, Schiefelbein started “Caring Aggies R Protecting Over Our Lives” (CARPOOL).
CARPOOL is active during fall and spring semesters. Last spring the much valued student organization had to suspended services due to lack of funding. However, after extensive fundraising efforts CARPOOL, like many other student organizations, started an endowment through the Texas A&M Foundation. The student organization is continuing to raise funds to maintain their top notch organization. For more information on donating or becoming a CARPOOL volunteer, visit carpool.tamu.edu.