A recent university police initiative now allows the University Police Department to send instant alerts to students and faculty in classrooms.
All red emergency call boxes, which were installed in classrooms last semester, can now be used by police to send audio messages to the occupants of the classroom. Previously, people in the classroom had to initiate conversations with UPD through the two-way radio function.
In the event of an emergency, University Police Department can send a vocal announcement through the boxes, just in case students and faculty miss the notification on their phones or email.
Students and faculty are also able to relay a dire situation to the police right away.
Alan Hargrave, associate vice president for student affairs and chairman of the university’s Crisis Management Team, said the boxes are more reliable than cell service, which can be spotty in some classrooms or other parts of campus.
“Many faculty members ask that students turn off cell phones during class, so the new call boxes provide access to emergency personnel and information should a need ever arise,” Hargrave said. “We hope this feature will help our students and faculty feel safe, so everyone can focus on learning experiences.”
University Police Chief Jim Duckham said the emergency call boxes also complement the 23 blue-light emergency phones installed on campus.
“We want students, faculty and staff—and all visitors—to understand that the call boxes are just one way to stay safe while on campus,” Duckham said.
Similar to the 23 blue-light emergency phones, the red emergency call boxes are intended to be used when immediate assistance is needed.
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