DeKALB | Two strangers in red shirts can provide helping hands to students at night.

The Huskie Student Patrol is available to escort students who feel unsafe walking alone on campus.

“Their whole responsibility is to provide escorts for students that request them, as well as patrol our parking lots because that’s where our presence needs to be for our police officers and for our student employees,” said Lt. Darren Mitchell.

The patrollers work in two shifts from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. One of their main responsibilities is to patrol parking lots and areas on the west side of campus. Mitchell said there are about 20 students on the HSP. It’s a paid position under the Department of Public Safety, and they fall under the guidance of Sergeant Ramon Holland.

Patrollers travel in pairs, wearing bright red shirts with the HSP logo on them. They also carry a radio to communicate with the HSP headquarters in Lincoln Hall and University Police.

“That’s where we have more problems at night, in the lots on the west side of campus,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said a lot of the stories that have been in the papers recently would usually be in the police blotter, and that could be fueling community fears. He did not have any numbers on an increase in calls to the HSP.

“We’ve been looking at the numbers and statistically, we’re pretty much about the same over the past couple of years,” he said.

Mitchell gave some “common sense” tips on things students can do to help protect themselves. He said students should walk in groups, keep doors locked and not leave valuable objects out in the open when parking your car.

“You don’t have to walk alone,” Mitchell said. He said students can contact both the HSP and the Late Night Ride Service for help at night.

Two of the patrollers out Wednesday night were Joshua Parker and Matthew Woods.

“It’s not that bad; you get used to it. It’s pretty quiet most nights,” Woods said.

Also out Wednesday night were Hallie Konieczki, a pre-nursing major, and two of her friends. She said she uses the buddy system when out at night, carries a “rape whistle” on her key-chain, and when she has to walk alone she is usually on her cell phone.

“I have never seen [the HSP] though,” said pre-nursing major Elizabeth Richter. “To be honest with you, I’ve been out here at night and I’ve heard about them, but I’ve never actually seen them. So I feel like they are a myth, but I know it’s true.”