First published Sept. 24, 2021 in Stories Beneath the Shell.
By Molly Zatman
The University of Maryland’s blue light system includes over 300 emergency phones stationed on and off campus for callers to directly contact the University of Maryland Police Department. Despite declining use, it will continue to operate.
Blue light calls can range anywhere from requesting a walking buddy to reporting an ongoing crime, but fewer people have used them since cell phones arrived, UMPD says.
Eight blue lights have been taped up with “out of order” signs or black garbage bags, and another 25 have issues such as needing a new bulb replacement, according to Hafsa Siddiqi, a spokesperson for the university.
The system was first implemented at UMD in 1990, before the ubiquitous use of smartphones.
UMPD Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas said that when she began working at UMD in 2007, use of the lights was “more frequent.” Hoaas was unable to provide tallies for how often the lights are used.
“With most people having cell phones these days, it’s just more convenient to make the call right then and there,” Hoaas said.
Despite outages, the blue light phones are monitored and periodically maintained. UMD has allotted $70,000 annually for upkeep and implementation of the lights, Siddiqi wrote in an email.
Brianna Loshin, a sophomore general biology student, said the lights make her feel safe, especially on the Jewish day of rest. Observant Jews avoid anything considered work or using technology from Friday evening to Saturday evening, so Loshin doesn’t carry her phone with her.
“It’s good to know it’s an option,” she said.
Other universities have started to phase out the system, Hoaas said, but UMD will keep its emergency lights.
“They’re an oldie-but-goodie,” she said. “Sometimes technology fails. Our phones might be low on battery and then die midway through, or worse, it could be the victim of a crime where someone takes your cell phone from you and you still need to get in contact.”
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