At their Sept. 30 meeting, the University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) announced that the Blue Light HELP Callboxes may be phased out in favor of the Black Bear Safe app. The Maine Campus spoke with UMSG leadership about the proposal, which has raised questions among students about how the change might affect campus safety.
The Black Bear Safe app is a University of Maine-specific app managed by the UMaine Police Department (UMPD) and is the digital counterpart to the physical Blue Light HELP Callboxes. It offers features such as contacting 911, emergency notifications, emergency location tracking from UMPD, crime tipping, support resources and campus emergency plans.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2011 to 2012 Campus Law Enforcement report, 92% of all colleges and universities across the country have implemented a Blue Lights system. There are currently 40 Blue Lights located at UMaine, with 32 of them stationed along the walkways of campus. The remaining eight are located indoors.
When the call button is pressed, the Blue Light at the top of the callbox strobes to signal that help has been requested. The Blue Lights system connects directly to UMPD’s communication center and allows students to report crimes, suspicious persons, mislocated property, vehicle trouble, medical problems, fires or to request an escort to travel a short distance with. The Blue Lights system also serves as an additional source of campus lighting.
UMSG is still actively discussing the pending transition from the Blue Lights system to the Black Bear Safe app. Cynthia Shelmerdine, UMSG’s Vice President, shared her thoughts in an interview.
“The improper notification and teaching students how to use the Black Bear Safe App can lead to confusion and a disconnect between the student body and administration. I feel that the only con to this transition would come from people not being properly informed on the benefit of the change, and students and staff could feel as though their safety is not being taken as seriously,” said Shelmerdine.
She added that the Black Bear Safe app can be accessed from anywhere and provides location tracking in an emergency, while the blue lights require someone seeking help to stand in place until UMPD arrives.
“The app also provides support resources and information regarding parking services, UMPD, emergency plans, a campus map and many other useful safety tools,” said Shelmerdine.
She also addressed the student concern of lighting, which would be reduced if the Blue Lights system were to be removed.
“UMSG is working with Facilities Management to fix the lighting issue through means of funding requests and general meetings, where I have highlighted this as a main concern from the student body. Infrastructure projects take a lot of time, money and approval and I can understand how students feel frustrated on this topic as if there is nothing being done,” said Shelmerdine.
She added that further communication with Facilities Management is underway to provide more transparency about ongoing projects.
“I am currently setting up a press release and video with the Director of Facilities Management to address the lighting issue and other concerns with infrastructure and student safety. Lighting is a larger concern that was being worked on prior to the knowledge that the light boxes might be slowly phased out,” said Shelmerdine.
Shelmerdine specified that official plans have not been made to phase out the Blue Lights system, just that it is an option being considered by the administration. In an effort to better understand how students feel about the potential change, UMSG President Keegan Tripp sent out a school-wide survey in an email on Oct. 28.
“This brief survey aims to understand how students perceive safety on campus, including experiences/perspectives on campus lighting, the Blue Light system, the Black Bear Safe app and other safety resources. Your input will help identify strengths and areas for improvement in how safety is managed, communicated and supported across campus,” wrote Tripp in the email. Those interested in taking the survey can still do so here.
