Recently Keene State’s Campus Safety and Compliance Department is considering the phasing out of the blue light emergency system and we at the Equinox take issue with that.
Campus Safety seems to be concerned with the lack of use for these blue lights, almost as though they are a waste of money. The plan is to transition to an app-based emergency system. This transition would make the emergency response system more technologically advanced, bringing campus into the current times, if you will. However, we just cannot seem to see eye-to-eye with Campus Safety.
Lack of use is a bad metric to be basing the value of an emergency response system on. It would seem silly to do so. Lower use rates would be a good thing as well. In our view, it would mean campus is relatively safe. But we fear Campus Safety has overlooked some of the unintended consequences of the phasing out plan as well.
These blue lights provide a level of comfort and deterrence that just cannot be matched by the proposed app-based system. The visual of the blue light pole lets people on campus know that no matter what, they are a push of a button away from talking to help. Under the proposed new system, if you are feeling unsafe, you will have to go through your phone to get the app open and go from there. Pray any potential attacker be slow or confused as it may take you some time to get the app. That is assuming you remembered to pay your phone bill on time, have good cell service or good wifi service. If you have none of that going for you, we have been told there are many surveillance cameras around campus.
We feel that the defense of the surveillance system and the leaning into the app-based system is just lip service to the broader issue. The app-based system could be very complex and finicky, requiring good conditions for proper functioning. We feel that is optimistic as well, considering many people may not even download the app, just as soon resorting to calling 911 services.
These blue lights are very rudimentary machines and that is one of the perks about them. Each box is connected to a traditional wired telephone line and short of literally cutting the cord, it will always work. No power? Blue light works. No cell service or wifi? Blue light works. Middle of the night in the pouring rain? You guessed it, the blue light works.
Our broader fear is this: Whether the sentiment is intended or not, the phasing out of the blue lights gives the impression of community safety taking a slide down the list of priorities whereas safety should be of paramount concern. Modernization and lack of use are paltry excuses for making campus feel less safe or less comfortable and students’ safety should not be compromised for anything. How are those in charge, in power, going to sleep at night if someone is in distress and goes to use a blue light for a legitimate emergency except they use one that has been phased out? We would not sleep well if that happened. Would you?
