Though I did not know Jon Lacina or Raven Gileau, their deaths have made me sad and angry. The sadness rises up, not because I was directly impacted, but because both students were our students — both students were engaged members of our community. Being an employee and alumnus of Iowa State, I am very proud of our students and the university. I have a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for the ISU community. This is were I get angry, I feel that individually we are failing in our responsibility to insure the safety of our friends and community members.

If we have learned anything about prohibition, it should be that it does not work — it simply hides or redistributes the prohibited subject. In my opinion, the university is prohibitionist about drinking. Unfortunately we have to be, there is too much financial risk and potential to damage our public image and reputation. I am angered that the university is essentially forced into this position by the real or perceived irresponsibility of our community members. It is recognized that the university must take responsibility for the safety of our students — and we do. CyRide offers the Moonlight Express. It can get you close to home late at night and early morning. The Department of Public Safety offers the safety escort service from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Though this program is not provided to intoxicated persons because being intoxicated in public is, and will most likely always be, illegal. Does providing the Moonlight Express promote or encourage public intoxication? No it does not. It is a safety net, it provides safe transportation home. It is a shame that we need it at all.

Now maybe Cyride or DPS can’t get you were you need to be when you need to be there, but the city of Ames is not lacking in people moving capabilities. To my knowledge there are three taxi companies that, for a small fee, will get you or your friend safely home. Again, these services in-and-of themselves do not promote irresponsible behavior, they do provide a safety net. With that knowledge, my anger grows more intense.

Both Jon Lacina and Raven Gileau had many safe options for getting home, and for whatever circumstances these options were not used. Why weren’t these services used?

I don’t want to say it was Lacina’s or Gileau’s fault, I don’t want to say it was his or her friends’ fault, I will say it is our fault — the community’s fault and each community member’s fault — for not continually reinforcing the message to be responsible when you drink, regardless of your age, and to take responsibility to know, use or offer to pay for someone else’s use of the safe transportation services our community offers.

Yes, we are all responsible for our friends and fellow community members. We cannot be passive in this. So if everyone reading this would please pull out your cell phones, it is time to act upon your responsibility to keep yourself, your friends, and community safe. Add these numbers now:

• DPS Safety Escort 515-294-4444
• Ames Taxi 515-232-1343
• Ames Taxi 515-233-3324
• Nighthawk Cab 515-203-0423
• Gene’s Transportation 515-249-1127

If you have an iPhone, add the free CyRide apps. If I’ve missed similar services provided by the university or commercially please write in and inform the community about these services. The deaths of Gileau and Lacina are devastating because they should not have happened, they were preventable, and we have the resources in place to prevent such deaths.

These services are not provided to promote irresponsible behavior, they are in place for responsible behavior. If you are willing by buy yourself or your friends a drink, be responsible in how much you drink, in how much you provide and follow through responsibly by making sure you and your friends take the safest method home.

My deepest sympathy goes out to Gileau’s and Lacina’s families and friends. I sincerely hope that in losing them our community will grow to a deeper level of community ownership which will be manifested in taking a higher level responsibility for our friends and fellow community members.

Trevor Riedemann is an ISU alumnus, B.S. physics ‘92 and M.S. metallurgy ‘96.