He said budget constraints were a main reason for the change, but he stressed that safety was not being compromised.

The merger will only make an internal change to combine dispatching functions formerly performed by two people, he said, meaning that one person will be in charge of dispatching both escorts and rovers, who check on residence halls' windows and doors for security purposes.

This change will become permanent if the merger between the Escort Service and residence hall security runs smoothly.

Previously, the Escort Service had its own dispatcher, who would answer calls and send a walker or a taxi to pick up the caller.

The Residence Hall Security Unit also had its own dispatcher that managed the alarm system in the university's residence halls and would dispatch rovers to check on residence halls if there were any problems with the alarms.

The Escort Service has gone from receiving 3,061 calls in the 1997-98 school year to receiving 810 calls last school year (2002-03).

"There has been a small increase since the sexual assaults [this school year] but nothing we've seen as substantial," said Thomas Harmon, director of Penn State Police Services.

While he is unsure of why fewer students are using the service, Harmon said he thinks some students see talking on cell phones while walking alone as an alternative.

"That doesn't mean they're a substitute [for walking with someone]," he said.

Laura Baker, a student escort, said the staff size has been slowly decreasing.

"We had about 17 [staff members] last semester and now we have less than 10," she said.

Cameron Richardson, a student escort, said the service is efficient, but he feels residence hall security is slowly taking over.

Students have mixed reactions about using the service.

"It's a good idea that they have it, but I think it's more of an embarrassing thing if someone comes to pick you up," Amanda Fisher (freshman-architecture) said.

Katie Buckland (sophomore-letters arts and sciences) said, "I think it's awesome, but I think people would be too intimidated to use it."

Pam Gerber, Escort Service coordinator, said that it is important for students to be aware of their surroundings and have a partner to walk with.

"You are automatically safer if you are with someone," she said.