On Oct. 30, Student Wellness, Students Advocating for Gender Equality (SAGE) and Stonewall Hall sponsored a “Blue Light March.” The goal of the event was to keep students informed about campus safety and the campus lamp posts with boxes marked “Campus Security” and glowing blue lights.
Beginning at the BSC terrace, participating students walked through the academic quad, around Lake Placida, past Leffler Chapel and Performance Center and between Wolf and Brinser fields. It ended in the main lobby of Founders Residence Hall.
Before the walk began, Andrew Powell, the director of campus security, and Dale Boyer, assistant director of campus security, explained the blue light system on campus. Each blue light box consists of a signal light and a call button, which when pressed, will connect to the Campus Security office. “You can always, at any time of day, walk into [or call] the Campus Security office and a dispatcher will be there to assist you,” Powell said.
Blue light boxes are checked once per week to ensure that they are functioning properly. The blue light system began primarily as an escort service for students walking back to their dorms from Brown Lot. If they didn’t feel comfortable walking alone, students could call in and ask for a member of Campus Security to walk with them.
Boyer and Powell both emphasized that these phones are not intended for convenience. They are for campus-wide safety. If there is an actual emergency, students should not hesitate to use a blue light phone.
Many colleges and universities across the country are discontinuing the use of systems like this on their campuses because they believe the boxes have been replaced by cell phones and new personal safety apps. Campus Security is currently exploring options of safety apps or other services to supplement the blue light phones.
“I like the idea of redundancy,” Boyer said. “I like to have something else there as a backup. The blue light phones are an advantage.”
The march ended with a Q&A session about the boxes, campus safety and Campus Security’s self-defense programs.
“We’re here for you as part of the college to keep you safe,” Boyer said. “Don’t hesitate to come to one of the officers. You can reach them by email, phone call or appointment or just drop by. Stop them, talk to them and get to know them.”
Boyer will be running a self-defense education program in rape aggression defense courses (RAD) from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23.
