Syracuse University is one campus that utilizes emergency blue phones. They believe that "the Blue Light System is a series of emergency alarm stations strategically located throughout the campus to provide assistance to anyone in distress. A blue beacon is positioned above each alarm station. When an individual presses the alarm button, they can communicate directly with the communications center at the Department of Public Safety, to notify the dispatcher of the emergency. An officer or an emergency team will be dispatched to respond effectively to the situation."
Additionally, Rath Security, a security company specializing in emergency phones promotes that "campus blue light emergency phones are a crime deterrent because they are highly visible and easy to access. The phones provide peace of mind for parents, students, employees and visitors on campus. Emergency phones are typically located all around campus: housing, common areas, parking lots and structures and interior locations. Blue light phones have been providing security on campuses for three decades."
However, some universities believe that blue lights are not cost efficient or the most effective way in providing safety to the public and some universities are beginning to phase them out. The University of Iowa, Universty of California Davis, and New Mexico State University some examples of schools that believe that cell phones are much more useful than emergency blue lights because they are expensive to maintain. The University of Vermont has 137 emergency blue light phones which cost $400,000 to install and $75,000 to maintain. Even though the lights are costly, the police cheif Lianne Tuomey says they have no plans to get rid of them. Crime has increased over the last six years which demonstrates the need for emergency blue light phones on University of Vermont's campus.
While blue emergency phones are costly, the safety departments at univerisites believe that they are part of the promise of safety the university is making to the families attending.
