I would like to ask for clarification of the comments about the escort service that appeared in the editorial opinion on Tuesday, March 28.

The editorial commented that, paying the escorts will make the service more professional and reliable." This implies that the former student escort service lacked some reliability.

What needs to be clarified is what led the (Collegian Board of Opinion) to believe that the service's reliability was less than par. Myself and many others that I have spoken to who were involved in the former service were insulted by this implication.

Granted, our opinion is quite biased, but we have never observed any lapses in the service's reliability as far back as we can remember.

Also, there needs to be a more detailed description of the argument that a service with paid escorts is more reliable and professional than a service that is run by volunteers. I don't understand the logic behind that statement.

Overall, I guess that I am disturbed that the entire issue of ". . . the revamping of the current escort service . . ." has gone ahead without giving credit where credit was due.

I remember the escort who left their room to walk an escortee from the corner of Fraser and College Ave. to University Terrace in sub-zero weather.

I remember the escort who left his room at 2:30 in the morning to escort a woman 5 blocks to do her laundry. At 4:30 a.m., he met the escortee again to walk back.

My intention is not to protest the development of the new escort service -- more power to it.

I just feel moved to thank the people who made the present service one that I could feel proud to be a part of.

I am sorry to say also that many of them will not be able to afford the scheduled time commitment that the new service requires.

A much deserved and belated thank you to all those who made the student escort service a professional and reliable one.