Vol. 119, No. 25 Nov. 12-14, 2018 Out of the BLUE A closer look at the emergency phone system E M E R G E N C Y By Shannon Harney and Maddie Aiken THE DAILY COLLEGIAN ‘Less likely to If Penn State’s blue lights were to suf- of marketing commit a crime’ Collegian Creative ficiently cover campus, the university and communications. Prospective students cannot visit Penn would need over 1,000. The lights are not confined to only State without their tour guide pointing video.” Currently, there are only about 90 the university’s campus — they are also out the emergency phones — a physical As Eble sees it, the big- lights, which function as emergency present in the surrounding neighborhood symbol of Penn State’s endeavor to cre- gest benefit is a camera’s ability to deter phones to contact law enforcement. within Columbus. In contrast, blue lights ate a safe campus environment. crime. As some students question the ef- shine only on University Park’s campus, Each blue light, or emergency phone, “People are less likely to commit a fectiveness of blue lights, Penn State instead of also being placed in downtown has a bright light on top of a tower. In the crime when there’s a camera around,” has taken several measures to upgrade State College where many students live. event of a power outage, the lights would Eble said. “We’d rather not catch a bad them in today’s technologically-centric Holman said calls from blue lights on go out, but the phones would still func- guy, we’d rather prevent a bad guy.” world. Video cameras and mobile apps campus go to the Ohio State Police, while are among the many recent additions to tion. calls from off-campus lights are directed ‘Comfort and safety’ campus safety at the university. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln re- to the Columbus Po- Eble said the blue light phones provide “It’s a just-in-case device, just like your moved almost all of its lice. a sense of safety around campus. His de- smoke detector at home,” said Scotty blue lights in October At Penn State, a sin- 2017, reducing nearly “It’s not partment regularly gets requests from Eble, Penn State’s chief physical security gle new public emer- both students and parents to install more officer. “It’s not something you expect to 100 emergency phones something you gency phone tower, to two. Replacement blue light phones. be used, but you definitely want it to be expect to be used, but or blue light, costs at Though the emergency phones available.” and maintenance least $15,000 to in- costs for the phones you definitely want it to served a more meaningful purpose be- Blue lights are not unique to Penn stall. Some can cost fore cell phones, Eble said, the blue lights State, though. Most universities have a were estimated to be available.” more than $20,000, be $1.7 million over are still necessary, such as on football similar emergency phone system. said Jennifer weekends when there’s an influx of about the next 15 years — These devices were installed on cam- Cruden, the public 150,000 people. if they remained on puses in the 1980s or 1990s, during a time Scotty Eble information officer Penn State’s student government has campus, according when cell phones were not common- Chief Physical for Penn State Police also considered the value of the blue to Nebraska Today, a place. The lights provided students with Security Officer and Public Safety. lights on campus. Ben Cutler, the UPUA an easy way to contact campus police in news outlet run by the Since 2012, more facilities chairman, said he cannot imag- the event of an emergency, according to a university. than 20 blue lights around ine a time when blue lights wouldn’t be 2017 University Park Undergraduate As- “It was a transparent process,” campus have been equipped with present on campus. sociation report. Police Chief Owen Yardley said via email. 360-degree surveillance cameras. If UPUA and the university, Cutler said, Most students now have an easier way “I believe it is viewed as a normal course someone operates the emergency phone, are taking several measures to upgrade to contact police — their smartphones. of change due to the advancements in the camera allows police dispatchers to the system and increase campus safety. Increased cell phone usage has prompt- mobile technology which in our case see both the individual and the surround- Similar to Eble, Cutler described the blue ed universities to question the necessity made the blue phones obsolete.” ing area while help is on the way. lights as a “deterrent” to crime and a of blue lights, causing some schools to Yardley said the school has not seen The cameras are also used as a sur- physical symbol of campus safety, based consider removing them altogether. any changes in crime rates since remov- veillance platform when the emergency on UPUA’s 2017 report on blue lights. “Trying to rely on students, and cell ing its blue lights. phones are not in use, Eble said. In 2015, rather than Penn State invest- phones, and batteries, and cell signal as Some Big Ten schools chose to keep the “They’re installed in well-lit, open ar- ing in over 900 new blue lights, the uni- an emergency communication means safety systems despite their low usage, in- eas so they have a good view in long di- versity instead decided to upgrade the al- is kind of putting the liability on to the cluding Ohio State with its 210 blue lights. rections,” Eble said. “That way, if you ready existing lights and install cameras, students,” Eble said, “and we think we They reach a larger demographic of peo- have an incident where you’re trying to Cutler said. should own that to provide whatever reli- ple compared to Penn State, said Nicole look for a car that went by at a certain able communications that we can.” Holman, Ohio State’s assistant director time, you can go back and look at the See BLUE, Page 2. PAGE 2 | NOV. 12-14, 2018 LOCAL THE DAILY COLLEGIAN START CLIMBING Discovery Space gets $100K Centre Inspired grant By Lilly Forsyth THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Through the Centre Inspired grant, Centre Foundation donat- ed $100,000 to Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, located on North Atherton Street, to build Centre Makes — a workshop for community members. Equipment such as computers, 3D printers, soldering irons and small laser cutters are some of the elements that will be included in the garage. Eric Firestine/Collegian Future classes will teach par- The Bryce Jordan Center welcomes fans during player introductions for the men’s basketball team before a game on Friday, Nov. 9. ticipants how to use the tools. “We are honored and humbled to be selected for this grant,” Mi- chele Crowl, executive director at Discovery Space said in an of- there is a tornado warning, for universities. At Ohio State, Rave Maharsh Benday hasn’t used ficial statement. Blue example. Guardian provides emergency the blue light system, either, “There’s been conversations FROM Page 1. UPUA and the university ac- alerts, mobile tracking and 911 since he is typically with friends for about five years now of people knowledged that, in many situa- calling capabilities. late at night. trying to make a space like this, Currently, Cutler said, all of tions, it is easier for students to Though Penn State students “If [people are] walking alone where the community can come the blue lights on College Avenue use their phone in emergencies. walk by these emergency phones and they feel unsafe, and even if together to use tools and share are equipped with cameras that Cutler said UPUA hopes to every day, few actually use they’re not in any particular dan- knowledge. Never before have “monitor potential threats.” But implement Alertus, a mass no- them. Halle Hartman said she’s ger, I do think that this reassures so many of those pieces come to- since cameras are added to blue tification system that will send never needed to use a blue light them,” Benday (junior-media gether at once.” studies) said. “I think it gives lights when they’re in need of re- students location-based alerts phone because she’s always The workshop will be housed people a sense of comfort and pair, the rise of camera-equipped when a crime happens on cam- felt safe on campus. in the 5,000 square-foot garage safety.” blue lights will be gradual, he pus. Students will also be able to “I feel like they help,” Hartman behind Discovery Space. said. text reports to police, Cutler said. (sophomore-chemical engineer- Crowl estimates some of the To email reporters: [email protected] equipment will be set up by fall Cutler said computer screens Penn State’s idea to intro- ing) said. “I’ve never used it…but and [email protected]. 2019, adding that additional do- could potentially be added to blue duce a safety-based mobile app I know that the option is there, so Follow them on Twitter at @shannharney nations would make the project lights, alerting students when follows suit with several other that makes it feel safer.” and @madsaiken. “move faster.” Before fall of next year, Crowl said introductory classes will be held for high school students and adults to highlight the features of Rescuing endangered Monarch the space. Crowl also mentioned in a sep- arate interview that some class- es will include crafting projects, bois such as custom pens and Harry butterflies from Altoona, Du Potter-inspired wands.