If students called Safetywalk early this fall only an answering machine picked up. But as of Sunday night, students are again staffing Harvard's only late-night walking service.

Although the University has been publicizing Safetywalk since the beginning of this year, the opening was delayed because its directors could not recruit enough volunteers to staff it.

"There was no reason it suddenly got more dangerous to walk," said Co-Director Adam A. Hachikian '01. "We just got it started as soon as we could."

Students who feel uncomfortable about walking home at night, especially in locations on campus that have been prone to crime--like the path to Dunster and Mather, Cambridge Common, and the long trek to the Quad--can now expect an escort team to arrive within 10 minutes of calling Safetywalk.

The University's escort shuttle service, in contrast, ends at 2:30 a.m. on weeknights and can take up to 45 minutes to pick up students after they call, said Randy A. Bell '00, one of last year's co-directors.

[Co-ed teams of two students staff the Safetywalk line from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.]

Since it is difficult to find volunteers for weekend nights, and because the service does not want to be responsible for conducting students home from parties, Safetywalk is only available on weeknights, according Randy A. Bell '00, one of last year's co-directors.

Hachikian added that he and fellow director John S. Neumann '01 struggled this fall to recruit enough volunteers to launch Safetywalk.