The Facts: Campus Police and the Department of Environmental Health and Public Safety are considering making upgrades to the blue light emergency poles. They are testing the additions out on Centennial Campus with three cameras on poles to monitor parking lots.
Our Opinion: The current poles are outdated and need improvement. Make them so they can help bring justice as well as avoid crimes.
There are nearly 400 blue light phones around campus. In theory, students should be able to see two blue lights from any point on campus. These phones may be getting a much needed upgrade as soon as next year.
The emergency phones allow phone calls up to 90 seconds long, as well as an emergency button connecting to Campus Police’s Communication Center. These phones also have global positioning system so Campus Police can track the location of the call and deal with the situation. As John Barnwell , deputy chief of University Police Department, stated, “The current blue light phones are from pre-cellular times and were intended as a means of communicating through campus.”
These phones are outdated because of the availability of phone calls through cell phones. Barnwell also told Technician the phones are rarely used and when they are it is about non-emergency situations. The University provides funding for the development and maintenance of the system, and these upgrades would provide the poles with features to make them more useful and cost-efficient.
According to Barnwell , the new upgrades will include cameras with the ability to zoom. Another idea would be having multiple cameras on a single pole, so one may view the parking lot while the other is activated when the emergency button is pushed.
While these new additions to the blue light poles may not prevent crimes, they may act as deterrence to any crime. The extra security on the emergency poles will send the message to culprits of criminal acts they have a better chance of getting caught, which could persuade them not to commit the act.
These upgrades will also aid Campus Police in reactive measures to a crime. They will be able to record culprits on video and take the appropriate actions to bring justice. This being said, there is still a responsibility on the students.
These cameras and phones do add an extra layer of protection; however, students should keep car doors locked and stay out of unlit areas when walking back to their dorms. Being aware of your surroundings includes knowing where the blue lights are so you may get to them easily and use them as necessary.
The use of the blue lights is for students to protect themselves and their fellow students from criminal acts. They give students the ability to call Campus Police directly to report any suspicious behavior, as well request services like Safety Escort.
These additions to the blue lights will prove to be a valuable addition to our campus’ safety precautions.
