FireDogz hit the Jay

Ela Mazumdar, Transcript Reporter

Ohio Wesleyan’s Public Safety (PS) is working on promoting the JAYwalk to entice students to walk on campus instead of choosing Spring Street.

Former PS officer Jay McCann’s FireDogz food truck, as well as Dan’s Deli, will be strategically placed on the JAYwalk rather than on the corner of Spring Street so that students won’t walk that direction.

“Campus and student safety are not a sudden priority, but a constant 24/7 top priority,” said Bob Wood, director of PS. “I’m not sure anyone has set a goal of eliminating the use of Spring Street, but we do like the idea of students being on campus at night where there’s no traffic and no neighbors to disturb.”

He also said vendors were approached previously about making an arrangement like this, but the attempts were not successful.

McCann, FireDogz’s owner, said he was excited to participate in a trial period to have food vendors on the JAYwalk.

“It is a very nice and safe setting for FireDogz to offer OWU students some late night munchies while at the 24-hour library, Slocum Hall or just a quick walk from the residential side of campus for some good food,” McCann said.

Since Trattoria is no longer available and the Library Café closed, this project serves as a solution for students who might want food late at night.

“I have received some great feedback from students about the food and atmosphere,” McCann said. “The added $5 coupon off is also nice for folks short on cash at the end of the academic year. I look forward to the next few weekends and hope more folks give this a try.”

The project is still just in the trial period, but those involved are enthusiastic about the opportunities this could bring.

Kurt Holmes, interim vice president for student affair and dean of students, said he thought the arrangement is an experiment.

“We might find that there is little interest in this idea and we will try other ideas,” Holmes said. “Or we might find that the [JAYwalk] can become a center of late-night activities like many urban pedestrian walkways. We might even motivate some students to propose ideas.”