After parking the carts early due to mechanical issues, the LASER team carts have been fixed and are scheduled to run during the scheduled times.
For several weeks, reports came in that the carts weren’t running as late as they should be because they were running out of battery power. This increased calls for UT security rides, decreasing their presence on campus during regular LASER Team hours.
The worn out batteries on the carts crutched the service, making them unable to last the full hours of operation.
Rachel Rollo, Coordinator of Student Programs and Events and LASER Team was aware of the issues and called to make the repairs.
“Each of the carts have eight batteries, but both carts also had two batteries that needed replacing so that not to drain the other battery’s power,” said Rollo. “So the Golf Cart Depot came in and made the minor repairs, and the next day the LASER Team was running on time and all hours.”
Two weeks after the battery replacements Rollo continues to encourage students to take advantage of the secure and safe transportation service.
Derek Hockenberry, student coordinator of LASER Team said they will be running back to normal.
“LASER Team will be running during the scheduled times unless an unforeseen event occurs. As stated in the previous article, the two golf carts are five years old and maintaining an older vehicle is not uncommon.”
As for student use, “records are kept and the service reports indicate that it is still being used often,” said Rollo.
The Team of drivers includes five students who cover fourteen shifts. Among them they transport students to a wide range of locations, sometimes during unsafe hours.
“We have noticed the higher occurrence rate of single riders, which makes us happy because it tells us that those individuals are using the service strictly for personal safety,” said Rollo of the frequency of LASER Team.
“We tend to get most calls from Thursday through Saturday. The repaired carts will reduce the number of rides that security needs to give before 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. depending on which day of the week,” Hockenberry said.
With the service having plenty of employees willing to work into the late night of their weekends; seems more like a privilege than a security risk. Rachel Rollo spoke about reminding students of the convenience.
“Don’t just walk around alone if you don’t have to. You don’t need to so don’t. Drivers have business cards and we want to boost student involvement among campus.”
The number for LASER Team is (813) 257-4515.
No future plans on purchasing new carts, and no later operating hours are in sight for LASER Team. But fall plans for student employment will be opening up.
“With additional funding from Student Government, we will have a deeper pool of selection for better quality drivers,” Rollo said.
Currently there will be three new positions available next semester.
“We’d love a third cart, and it’d be a great luxury to be able to extend hours even later more often but right now the want doesn’t match the need.
We have no need for another,” mentioned Rollo.
The number for LASER Team is actually 257-4515.