CONNOR DUFFEY / ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Walking to class, stationed in parking lots and near dorm buildings, USD students can usually count on a USD Public Safety car being present. Students may have taken note of the frequently present Department of Public Safety vehicles, a familiar white and black Ford Explorer, or the occasional Chevrolet Silverado. The Ford Explorer is often the vehicle of choice for police departments nationwide, as the vehicle’s construction and performance are well suited for the demands of police work. Most models start around $26,000. 

However, the Department of Public Safety’s   newest  purchase of a 2024 Tesla Model Y, a vehicle that starts at $42,990, has caused some Toreros to ask questions regarding the cost effectiveness of the vehicle.

USD  senior Cassie Diaz   shared   her   thoughts on Public Safety implementing a Tesla on campus.

“It’s just another example of the school putting money towards things that we don’t need,” Diaz said. “It leaves me with more questions than answers.”

Other Toreros echo similar financial concerns. USD sophomore Zach Phillips shared his thoughts on where the school’s financial priorities should lie.

“I mean, I understand that Public Safety is important,” Phillips said. “But, I feel like that money can be spent elsewhere on campus, like putting AC in the dorms.”

The  Tesla  Model  Y  is   not the only electric vehicle employed by Public Safety, with the University purchasing a Ford Explorer Hybrid last year. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) explains the use of the Tesla and   the  Ford  Explorer Hybrid as an attempt to follow USD’s sustainability efforts, as well as attempt to reduce costs for vehicle maintenance.

“In alignment with the University’s strategic goals related to sustainability, DPS purchased one Tesla Model Y in 2024,” DPS wrote in a written statement. “While environmental considerations were certainly a factor, the decision was also driven by the opportunity to  reduce long-term fuel and maintenance costs.”

The Tesla Model Y scores a 55/100 on the auto reliability index, a metric used to gauge vehicle reliability based on number of recalls and complaints. USD students also raised questions regarding the practicality of implementing one electric vehicle in a fleet of mostly combustion-powered vehicles. 

Other Toreros shared new ideas on how to implement electric vehicles in an effective manner  on   and  around   campus. USD senior Mya Speigner offered a new perspective.

“If anything could be electric, it should be the trams,” Speigner stated. “The trams  are running all the time.”

The white-and-black Tesla parked outside the dorms is likely to keep raising eyebrows, and questions. As tuition costs continue to rise, many Toreros say they simply want more transparency about where the money goes, and why.

The USD DPS fleet predominantly consists of Ford Explorers. Caden Haynor/The USD Vista