Halfway through the fall semester, Oberlin Campus Safety abruptly scaled back its two largest student-led safety services, Rideline and the Conservatory Monitor program, after realizing that the department had exceeded its student employment budget.
Rideline, an on-campus shuttle service that transports students across campus and to nearby housing at night, now operates with fewer drivers and shorter service hours. The Conservatory Monitor program, which staffs student workers to patrol and supervise practice spaces in the Conservatory, also majorly reduced hours.
According to College fourth-year Nathaniel Liu, who serves as student supervisor for Campus Safety’s student workforce, the cutbacks stemmed from a mismatch between last year’s expanded hours and this year’s tighter budget expectations.
Liu explained that last year, at the Conservatory’s request, the program’s coverage was expanded dramatically, from about 20 hours a week to 78, drawing heavily from a shared fund that also supports Rideline. When a new director stepped in this fall, the department was instructed to keep spending within fixed limits.
“We interviewed around 20 Rideline candidates and were going to hire 17,” Liu said. “We were told, ‘No, you cannot.’ So we were constrained to only be able to hire seven of those people.”
Liu also said the Conservatory Monitor program was cut down to 16 hours per week, the fewest they have ever received.
He said the reductions have serious implications for campus safety and access. He emphasized that Rideline and Conservatory Monitors do more than simply drive shuttles or walk through buildings, noting that their work often involves responding to safety concerns, assisting students in emergencies, and providing a sense of security across campus.
“Rideline employees have saved lives,” Liu said. “It’s a very, very sensitive thing for me to realize that we’re not out there.”
Sydney Robinson, Conservatory Monitor and College fourth-year, said the news came without warning early in the semester.
“It was just sort of out of nowhere,” Robinson said.
All monitors were initially cleared in payroll but were informed days later that their shifts would be suspended until after fall break. When work resumed, hours were drastically reduced. Robinson said they decided to leave their position so peers who depend on the income could take the limited shifts available.
“There’s more of a need for people looking out for each other right now,” they said.
Robinson added that the Monitors’ presence deters misuse of practice rooms and offers reassurance to students using the Conservatory’s facilities late at night.
Rideline employee and College fourth-year Muhsen Al-Dajani said student employees learned about the loss of funding through email, and the explanation they received pointed to administrative turnover within Campus Safety.
He said the effects have been immediate for students relying on late-night transportation, including fewer available drivers and less flexibility for those with night classes or early-morning commitments.
“This is a service that should be here, was here, and can be here again,” he said.
In an emailed statement, Director of Campus Safety Eric Rooks said the department remains focused on student well-being despite making financial adjustments.
“Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our students, and that won’t change,” he wrote. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to manage resources carefully so that essential services remain strong and sustainable. We’re making some adjustments to bring spending in line with the budget, but we’re doing that carefully to ensure that key safety programs like Rideline continue to operate when students need them most.”
Liu said Campus Safety and student leaders explored additional funding avenues, including asking for support from the Student Finance Committee, but no alternative funding sources were approved. For now, he said, the plan is to operate fewer days and hours while prioritizing colder months when demand for safe rides increases.
