U. to upgrade blue-light phones

Cellular phone system, high-speed security cameras may be installed When Director of Security Services Chris Algard surveyed the campus' blue-light security phones last year, he determined that 34 of the 226 sites were plagued with defects ranging from poor wiring to burnt-out light bulbs. An additional six were inoperable. Algard also found that 95 of the phones did not meet Americans with Disabilities Act specifications, which mandate wheelchair and hearing impaired accessibility. "The problem is the phones don't tell us when they break down," he said. "In my opinion, a life-saving device such as this must be monitored." The blue-light phone system allows students in distress to alert a University Police dispatcher simply by pushing a button or lifting a receiver. The dispatcher sends an officer to the phone's location in about three minutes. Algard explained that while there is no comprehensive map of the blue-light phone network, he estimates there are about 226 phones on or near to campus, with 182 of these located on building exteriors. As part of an ongoing plan to upgrade University security systems, he said he is looking to revamp the 25-year-old blue-light emergency phone network. "Although the University is one of the safest places in Philadelphia, the current situation is very depressing," Algard said. "It isn't very hard to look around campus and find a decrepit phone that should belong in Ma Bell's antique museum." Algard added that he would like to see more proactive measures including a plan where blue-light phones would be placed at every vehicle and pedestrian intersection on campus. "Incoming freshmen could be directed to go to the Southeast corner of every intersection if they need help, as opposed to now, where there is no logic behind where to find a phone," he said. To correct the current situation, Algard said he is also investigating the benefits of cellular solar-powered phones -- such as those used in emergency call boxes on interstate highways across the country. Algard said the operational cost of wireless phones would be comparable to the current system. And because the batteries are solar-powered, installation costs would be much lower, Algard said, citing a $6,000 difference. He added that the cellular phones have much more functionality, since they perform a self-diagnosis of operational status, which can be reported back to a control center. This eliminates the need for the department to perform its own surveys. In addition, the wireless units are portable, so that during events like Spring Fling, they can be moved to accommodate increased traffic in certain areas, Algard said. He added that he is also looking into a high-speed computer-controlled camera security system. Unlike conventional cameras, which take as much as a minute to complete a full rotation, these cameras can cover the same area in less than a second, Algard said. He has designed a plan that would require only 20 cameras spaced along the major campus walks. These cameras could confer with a central computer system for instant alarm verification. While such a camera system would be "very costly," Algard said it would be worth the price. "We need to measure cost against perception," he added. "We want people to have a warm and fuzzy feeling when walking around campus."