Pledge to Not Text and Drive

Robin Blackmon takes off the DUI goggles to get a
better view of the damage she has done to the cones.

For the first time, James Brown, criminal justice faculty, has required his students to take part of a service learning activity. Brown's fast-track certificate class chose to do a service learning project about the dangers of texting while driving.

The students of the criminal justice class are informing high school and college students about the dangers and asking everyone to take a pledge not to text while driving.

Anna Scruggs sends a text message to her friend while she
tries to maneuver through the course on a golf cart.

As a part of the service learning project, the class has collaborated with the Gallatin Police Department to operate an obstacle course to navigate while texting and driving.

Individuals can also wear the DUI goggles to see what it is like to drive under the influence.

“One cone is one person dead or you dead,” said Kevin Cook, Director of the Criminal Justice Program. 

While driving the golf cart through the obstacle course, Anna Scruggs, sent a message to her friend stating, “What are you doing?”

Student Donavan Thomas takes the pledge
while criminal justice student Jessica Perrigo assists.

Scruggs said that she does not normally text and drive but the course has persuaded her not to do it at all.  

“I haven’t tried texting and driving,” said student, Paul Campbell. “But this will keep me from doing it.”

The obstacle course will be set-up in the Commons/Quad and a table will be set-up in the Wood Campus Center for individuals to pledge. This all takes place Thursday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m until 1 p.m.

“I challenge the whole campus to take the pledge and to take on the [obstacle] course,” said James Brown.