By ABBY BRAVO
News Editor
Saint Rose Security is planning an extensive upgrade of existing security equipment and procedures around campus that includes removing nearly 60% of the blue light emergency call boxes, adding lighting and more patrols in certain campus areas, and encouraging use of the Rave Guardian app in case of emergencies.
With three serious security alerts being sent during the first month of the semester regarding violence in and around campus some may think it is an inopportune time to remove call boxes, but Saint Rose Security cited lack of use and better focusing funds for security purposes as the main reasons for removing 26 call boxes.
“We were averaging maybe six to twelve blue light activations a year,” said Director of Safety and Security Steven Stella. He emphasized that all were non-emergency calls, some seemed to be pranks, and the call boxes were not being activated by Saint Rose students.
“I’ve been here 14 years and I can count on one hand the number of times it’s been used for actual emergencies,” said Lieutenant Jeff Palmer, associate director of administration for Saint Rose.
The plans call for leaving 18 call boxes out of the original 44. They said they attempted to keep most call boxes within view of at least one other call box. “Bluelights are a very antiquated technology and they are very fixed where they are,” said Palmer; “the only time you’re going to hit the call box is when you’re near one.”
One benefit of the Rave Guardian app, Palmer said, is that it can be used anywhere. There have already been 16 calls through the Rave Guardian app this semester he said.
They plan to upgrade the existing boxes from their current model of Generation 1’s to Generation 3’s which, according to Palmer, are louder and brighter. Palmer said that updates would not be cost effective for the other 26 blue lights on campus as that money can go toward “better lighting in parking lots and a better communication system.”
The uptick in crime hit campus directly on Sept. 18 when several cars were broken into in the Centennial Hall parking lot. Stella emailed students of the break-ins the previous night at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19. A senior childhood and special education major, who prefers to remain anonymous, is the owner of one of the cars affected. She was alerted by a friend Monday morning of the damages they had noticed on her car. “My car passenger front window was smashed open with the glove box and center console ripped apart,” the student wrote in an online exchange.
The damage to the student’s vehicle had not been noticed by school security or the Albany police, who had both been on the scene that morning. While there was nothing stolen from the vehicle, the student paid out of pocket to repair the damages.
Students are being encouraged to keep their cars locked and not to leave personal belongings in their vehicles to prevent further incidents. The next day, Associate Director of Residence Life Tia Thompson sent an email alerting students of new security measures going into effect due to the break-ins. These include a patrol vehicle being parked in the lot, hourly rounds by security officers, and dispatchers keeping the Centennial Lot as the main camera feed and to conduct “virtual tours” often.
“I believe that they are trying to make a better situation after letting three or four cars get damaged,” wrote the student regarding these changes. “It seems that they are proactive after something happens instead of before something happens,” she wrote.
“This neighborhood is not currently safe,” Palmer said, and he said security is working to make the Saint Rose Campus as safe as possible for its residents.
Campus security strongly urges students not to go to parties or other late night events, especially parties on Hudson and Ontario streets. “Our approach isn’t hiding away from the fact that these things exist, but if you choose to make those choices know you are putting yourself at risk,” Palmer said. “If you are going to take part in that, make sure you’re smart about it, stay with your friends,” he added.
Security officers are available 24/7, all year round, so if you feel you are ever in any kind of danger do not hesitate to contact campus security at (518) 454-5187 or through the Rave Guardian app.
