The Red and Black

Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: News

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They loom on campuses across the country, blue lights offering a "comfort situation" for students and parents alike.

The University of Virginia has more than 400. Florida State has 400 in a trail. The University of Alabama has almost 100.

The University of Georgia - zero.

"You go to the University of Georgia and you don't have call boxes?" Alabama Police Officer Andy Liles said in a phone interview. "That's amazing."

Safety is a prominent topic on campuses nationwide. But at a school such as the University, with an almost 60 percent female population, safety concerns are a part of daily life. Compared to other schools, the University lacks in some aspects - call boxes - but excels in others - safety classes.

"I think UGA does a good job. They offer a lot in terms of resources that students at other, smaller schools cannot offer," said Keith Simms, executive director of Safe Campuses Now.

"I think the Athens community also shares in this success through the various community groups and government agencies who also care about the well being of students."


Call Boxes

The University had about 25 boxes with a direct link to a University Police 911 dispatch spread throughout campus, but the service was terminated last year. The boxes were canceled, in part because the popularity of cell phones decreased use of the call boxes, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said.

He said BellSouth required the University to upgrade the phones from an analog system to digital. This change would have been expensive, costing several hundred thousand dollars. Maintenance cost about $30,000 a month. The use did not support keeping the system, he said. If the University didn't have to upgrade the system, it probably would have kept it.

"The cost to replace the boxes when they are not being utilized isn't feasible - again, especially when the vast majority of people on campus have cell phones," Simms said.

The University has emergency phones in parking decks. Williamson said these look like elevator phones.

Florida State University has a Blue Light Trail with 400 light poles with speaker phones directly connected to the police station.

FSU police officer Chris Fender said in a phone interview the trail is "highly effective." Though he didn't know the number of calls police get each month, Fender said the department "receives calls all the time."

If an individual is chased through campus, Fender said the person can hit buttons on call boxes as they run. Police track the person's path and help them.

The University of Alabama has 87 phones on its campus, Alabama police officer Andy Liles said in a phone interview. Police get few emergency calls, but he said they regularly get calls for directions or car help.

Liles said the phones are paid for several ways. First, the phones are bought by a special project fund. Second, the phones can be paid for by a group. Liles said Alabama's law school requested phones and paid for the implementation. Third, the phones are factored into the cost of all construction projects by a policy mandating phones be included by new buildings.

The University of Virginia has more than 400 phones on campus, UVA police officer Becky Campbell said in a phone interview. These phones are bought by the school's Safety and Security Committee, and the school pays for the upkeep.

Campbell said the phones are rarely used but serve as a "comfort situation" for students.


Safe Rides

To help students move safely on campus, the University has Safe rides. Williamson said people use the rides regularly. The student group Watch Dawgs gives free rides home from downtown.

Simms said a University program offering rides home would be beneficial.

"I think if the service was expanded to reach specific 'student-based' apartment complexes ... students would take advantage of this service," Simms said. "Since last fall's 'man in the van' episodes, Safe Campuses Now has conducted more than 3,000 surveys about late-night bus ridership. More than 85 percent of respondents from the east side replied they would use this service."

Six years ago Athens-Clarke County had a late bus. Simms attributed few riders to poor promotion and a route from Milledge Avenue to the Arch.

FSU transports students with S.A.F.E. Connection, from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fender said students push a button on a call box, and a S.A.F.E. ride will pick them up.

The FSU student government provides The Night Nole, which takes students home from late-night venues. It goes to 32 apartments from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., FSU's Web site states.

Alabama transit has an "Entertainment Route" from campus to social areas, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Liles said. The transit system also has vans on campus.

UVA has three vans, which run Sunday through Thursday from noon. to 6 a.m. The vans don't drive groups of more than three, and passengers can't be intoxicated, Campbell said.

A late-night bus also runs until 3 a.m. on weekends.

Additionally, UVA contracted a cab company to drive anyone with a student ID home. Campbell said the bill is charged to the dean's office and put on the student's account. Campbell said this option is a "safety net, especially for females."


Programs for Women's Safety

To promote safety for women, University Police teach two classes. One, a personal safety class, teaches about 5,000 to 6,000 women each year. The program began in 1990 and is updated often, Williamson said. It is taught with the intention to advise women how to reduce risk to crime.

Officers discuss safety on campus and other topics, such as alcohol use, date rape and apartment safety. Williamson said officers teach and try not to preach.

"We don't want anyone to think we're there to tell you how to live your life."

University Police also offer a self defense workshop. It is a three-night program, with women spending four hours each night learning self-defense techniques.

FSU police offer eight Rape Aggression Defense classes each semester. Courses are only for women and teach awareness, risk, prevention and self-defense. Two classes are for academic credit. Fender said police teach groups requesting training, such as sororities and school employees.

"RAD is our big thing we do for women's safety," he said.

Alabama began offering women's safety classes in January. Classes, which are for academic credit, were so popular the school will offer two more in 2009, Liles said.

UVA offers RAD Courses, Campbell said. Female UVA police officers also give one-hour safety talks.


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With violent crime in Athens rising by 15 percent in 2007, safety features are of serious concern to many women on campus.

Though University women don't benefit from the "comfort situation" call boxes provide, they have the advantage of University Police-sponsored safety courses.

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