Southwestern College has followed other county colleges and universities in the installation of Emergency Communication Devices, the blue light poles campus leaders say will allow students to directly contact campus police. There are 48 on the Chula Vista campus alone, and 12 others spread across the satellites. Poles were paid for by Proposition R and cost $2.8 million.
Installation of the poles comes one year after an SWC rape victim said she pounded on the doors of the campus police headquarters, but those inside refused to answer. No action was taken by college administration following the incident.
SWC Police Chief Michael Cash said the poles should improve safety on all campuses.
“We thought this would be another way to add another layer of communication and safety to our students and staff,” he said. “For major emergencies where police would need to find the location of a specific device, a blue light at the top will illuminate and, if necessary, the dispatcher will set off an alarm. This can be used to deter assailants or get the attention of everyone in the surrounding area.”
Proposition R Program Manager Mark Claussen said the devices are easy to use and he hopes students will avail themselves if needed.
“You don’t need training to use them, you just need to know what they are,” he said.
Daeniesha Burrell, 19, a kinesiology major, said she now knows what to do in case of an emergency.
“ I hope not to have to use them, but I know what to do if anything happens on campus,” she said.
Devices are also designed to allow students walking to their cars alone at night the option of asking for a police escort.
Sandra Reza, 18, a psychology major, said the poles make her feel safer.
“Having the devices give me a peace of mind knowing that if I’m ever in danger there’s a safety option nearby,” she said.
The devices are a two-way system. They can be spoken into, and police can respond in case of an emergency, such as an active shooter.