At the beginning of the fall semester, students noticed the removal of all safety poles located on campus.
In a previous article from this fall, Sam Preston, assistant director of Public Safety, said, “It’s actually a long decision to make, but the campus alarms that we had were over 25 years old, were not working properly, and there were no replacement parts available.”
Public Safety did not want students to have a false sense of security and therefore decided on their removal.
The alternative to the safety poles is the free Rave Guardian app, available for all mobile devices, or calling Public Safety directly.
Women on campus have expressed concerns regarding the removal of the safety poles.
Alyssa Harlow, junior studio art major, said it makes her question why Public Safety removed the safety poles from campus.
“What was the point of having them if they’re gonna get rid of them?” Harlow said. “I feel like we need to be safe. ”
Harlow said she does not see herself using the Rave Guardian app in the future. Instead, she said she would look up Public Safety’s phone number.
“I wouldn’t even know how to contact somebody on Guardian if something were happening,” Harlow said.
Carrie Hagerman, sophomore radio and television major, said without the safety poles on campus, she has to have her pepper spray accessible at all times.
She said it felt safer when the safety poles were on campus last academic year.
“Last year, I felt very safe on campus like I never even worried about making sure I had pepper spray on me, but now it’s a constant thought in my head,” Hagerman said.
Hagerman said she is always checking her surroundings.
“As a woman, I do still feel subconscious and just making sure I’m always aware of my surroundings,” Hagerman said.
Hagerman said the Rave Guardian app is accessible, however, the internet might not always work.
“I’m constantly having Wi-Fi issues connecting to do my homework,” Carrie said. “So what’s going to happen in case of emergency?”
Hagerman said the return of the safety poles and seeing Public Safety patrol more often would make the campus safer.
“If the blue poles are back and then also if we had Public Safety on patrol more regularly, more routinely because I hardly ever see them out,” Carrie said. “Unless it’s during the day, so if they were out patrolling more regularly at night, I would feel safer.”
Grace Lueken, freshman mathematics teaching major, said she does not walk around campus often but would feel safer if the safety poles were returned.
“I don’t really walk around campus by myself, but I feel if I did, I would definitely feel more safe having those options on campus,” Lueken said.
Lueken said using the Rave Guardian app in the case of an emergency would be a hassle.
“I feel like it’s gonna be more of a hassle and looks more suspicious too, like someone’s following me and I’m gonna be pulling my phone out,” Lueken said. “Obviously, they’re gonna be like, they’re going to call someone I have to act on this now.”
Klaudia Stahl, freshman occupational therapy major, said during her tour on campus, the safety poles were pointed out as a safety reassurance and she felt safer.
“I felt more safe when the safety poles were here because when I did my tour, that was one of the things they advertised the most,” Stahl said. “I was kind of surprised when I got here and they were gone.”
Stahl thinks the Rave Guardian app is a good alternative, but it is not advertised enough.
She said the presence of the safety poles could also reduce the amount of crime on campus.
“Just bring the poles back,” Stahl said.
