Ohio University is in the process of removing blue-lit emergency call boxes across campus, sparking a debate about the future of campus security.

The emergency phones are located throughout the campus, along the bike paths around the campus and at the main entrances to all dormitories.

Since their installation in the 1990s, the blue emergency lights have provided a sense of security to the community. When activated, they connect students to campus security or local police.

However, with the increasing use of mobile phones, these blue lights have fallen out of use.

Samantha Pelham, a university spokeswoman, said in an email that the university completed a study in 2019 to evaluate the usefulness of blue light phones on the Athens campus and made suggestions for future use.

The study examined the use of emergency phones on campus from 2010 to 2019 and the number of calls to the Ohio University Police Department (OUPD) from 2018 to 2019 and showed that emergency phones are not used in emergencies.

“I can’t remember ever responding to a blue light call for a serious emergency in my entire career,” said Tim Ryan, OUPD staff lieutenant.

Ryan pointed out that blue-light phones on campus give students a sense of security, but are rarely used in emergencies.

“I think blue light phones give people a sense of security for some reason, and that’s important to some extent,” Ryan said. “Is it worth paying for the upkeep and maintenance of something that isn’t really used for its intended purpose, but gives people a sense of security?”

Pelham said in the email that no emergency phones have been removed from campus yet, and the plan is to phase them out and remove them as their equipment fails.

Student Senate Bill 1920-25 proposed removing the blue lights and converting one or two into free telephones for students needing directions or access.

Over the years, OU has implemented alternative methods to improve campus safety. Ryan suggested several options such as texting 911, calling OUPD directly, and using the Go OHIO app, which includes safety links and resources, as alternatives to the blue light phones.

The student organization Phone a Friend now offers students a more accessible alternative to using cell phones when safety concerns arise late at night.

Jess Mitchell, the club’s president and founder, founded the organization as a resource for students who need help getting home at night.

“That was my inspiration for all of this,” Mitchell said. “Basically, it’s going to be a student organization trying to take an approach to sexual violence on our campus. We play on historically red weekends where the rate of sexual violence has historically been highest, like Halloween and Homecoming.”

Phone a Friend works through an automated text messaging system for those in need of help. A student needs to text the number and two volunteers from the service will come and escort them home.

@maggie.amacher

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