The blue emergency poles around campus do more than just sound an alarm. Once someone presses the red button, the light is activated, alerting the University Police, who arrive within three minutes. Recently though, a few poles have had green sleeves slipped over them because they are out of order. The pole right behind Alumni Field, near the parking garage and the Dugas Center, went green a week ago; however, this does not mean security on campus has gone out of service as well.
According to Lieutenant Patrick Gipson, the reason why it has not been working cannot be disclosed, however physical plant workers have the situation under control.
“University police officers are on-duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays, University closures, and natural disasters,” Gipson said. “They patrol the entire campus and adjacent streets, performing the full range of law enforcement duties, including, but not limited to, responding to an investigation of incidents and offenses, medical emergencies, fires, bomb threats, auto accidents, violations of state liquor [laws], controlled substances, weapon laws and other on-campus emergencies.”
The poles have served their purpose for a safer campus, and even though students can simply use their cell phone to make emergency calls, the blue emergency poles pinpoint your location so the police know exactly where to find you in case of an emergency on campus.
“They are utilized anytime there is an emergency. We might get maybe twenty calls a semester, and that’s an estimate,” said Gipson. “They don’t get utilized an awful lot, but we want to keep them around just in case. Of course everybody has a cell phone now, but the blue poles are still important.”
Students, faculty and staff can help keep campus a safer place by being observant, and reporting any suspicious activity. Cooperation goes a long way in the community.
“Students and employees can help prevent crimes, and keep themselves safest, by knowing and following the procedures that are in place to protect the community,” said Gipson. “By remaining aware of their surroundings at all times, keeping themselves updated on local crime trends in the news and by reporting any suspicious or illegal activities they may witness.”
There is no word as to when the blue emergency poles which are out of service will be working again. Stay tuned to The Lion’s Roar for more coverage.