The emergency blue light call box system is strategically placed on and around Ohio University's campus in case of assaults or emergencies. The system is designed to provide a sense of security and immediate safety to OU students and other Athens residents. The call box has a phone and an emergency button that directly calls OU Police Department.
Since the system was installed in 1991, it only has been used twice for actual emergency situations, OU Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Matthews said.
Dave Strang, the telephone network manager at Communication Network Services, said each call box contains a large red emergency button. When activated, the button places a call to OUPD and a blue light on top of the box begins to flash.
When a call is placed, OUPD officers are able to determine the exact location of the box, OUPD Chief Tony Camechis said.
The response time to an emergency call from the system varies depending on the location and where the closest officer is patrolling, he said.
However, because of the small nature of the campus response time is awfully quick
Camechis said.
If one of the blue lights on a box burns out, a patrolling officer alerts Matthews, who then relays the message to CNS management.
CNS is in charge of the upkeep and maintenance of the emergency phones. The boxes are maintained regularly, said Sean O' Malley, public relations manager at CNS.
Strang said there was no statistical placement for the boxes' locations. They were placed in both high traffic areas and in areas that would be opportune for an assault or where someone could hide, he said.
Some students are not familiar with the call box system.
I can't ever remember seeing one of those on campus said Kelly Dooner, an OU freshman who lives on South Green.
According to a map provided by OUPD, 66 blue light call boxes and lights are marked on and around campus. They are located on each Green, around the bike path, the Convocation Center, Ping Recreation Center, Peden Stadium, Bird Arena, the Aquatic Center and other various locations. Emergency lights are as far west as the Facilities Management houses and as far east as the Mill Street Apartments.
An emergency call system is placed within each call box located at the entrance to each dorm, Strang said.
17
Archives
Tracy Fehr
