LETTER TO THE EDITOR: WMU should place more emergency call boxes
During my first couple of weeks on campus, a few things really stuck out and surprised me. One thing that caught my attention was the lack of emergency call boxes. Off the top of my head I only know the location of one of these call boxes; it’s across the street from the Bernhard Center. It also happens that the call box is far from where I usually am. I believe Western should place more emergency call boxes around our campus.
Because there are so few call boxes, there is a lower feeling of overall safety.
Numerous times, I have heard girls say that they cannot walk back to their dorms by themselves. It is not that Western is a dangerous campus; it’s just that safety is not promoted. If there were more of these call boxes, people would feel much safer.
As a female, it has been instilled in me to pay attention to my surroundings, and to be safe. But, sometimes things are out of our control. In case anything on campus were to happen, it would be very difficult to reach an emergency call box. The distance between them is unreasonable. If you were hurt or scared, getting to a call box would be almost impossible. That fact alone makes the few call boxes we have almost completely useless. In order for the emergency call boxes to be effective, we should have more throughout campus.
Installing more boxes would defiantly increase the feeling of overall security. If I knew there was call box within a minute’s walk from anywhere I was, I would feel comforted, and so would the other women on campus.
Kelsey Barnes WMU Freshman
Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=12404
Posted by HeraldAdmin
on Nov 22 2009. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
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I totally agree!
Obviously you need to open your eyes when you walk around…. If, as a female, it has been instilled in you to be aware of your surroundings and in the first 2 weeks here you only saw 1 box you’re either blind or never leave your room.
There are over 100 call boxes on campus. They are located by the SRC, multiple ones by the valley’s, including the pond. Also, if you feel unsafe walking at night take advantage of the Student Watch and the escort service as they are services provided for students!!
Gotta agree with Jason, if you only know of the one you need to open your eyes. Since reading your letter I’ve made a point of looking for call boxes, and they are simply everywhere. One thing in your defense is that some are in awkward positions, only visible in a small arc, and most are most are mounted on building not in free standing poles like the one mentioned in the letter. Next time you are on campus look for blue lights, there will be a box under each.