Blue light emergency systems are seen all around campus as tall blue poles or silver boxes, but not many students are aware of the purpose or even how to use the system.
LBCC has important safety policies and systems in place, a lack of communication is one of them.
According to Lt. Omar Martinez, a key system that LBCC students need to be educated on is the blue light system.
“I think it creates a sense of security, the thing of the blue light is that you don’t need to dial anything you can just press the button and get help,” Martinez said.
LBCC student, Timothy Spano was unaware of what the blue lights were and how they should be used.
“If somebody’s in danger they are not going to know to look for the blue thing,” Spano said.
The blue light system in front of Building P at LAC stands alone, yet students do not look twice at the tall pole with a call button.
A brief survey was done with a pool of 18 students, asking if they knew about the system and if they knew how to use it.
According to our survey of the 18 people, 11 people knew of the system and how to use it and seven people didn’t.
Martinez explained how LBCC recently switched from using blackboard to regroup mass notification in order to send emails and text messages.
The alert system is used for giving students and staff updates on crime and theft but is rarely used since alerts are only sent for major crime.
To start with, LBCC police is working on posting on their Twitter and Instagram account with updates on the school and its safety.
Martinez explained how he wants to add LBCC’s emblem and the police badge onto emergency alert emails to catch the eye of students and display its importance.
Gabriella Morales, an LBCC student, is aware of what the blue lights are and how they work.
“I’ve never felt threatened on campus but if I were to, I think they would make me feel safer,” Morales said.
Martinez touched on how the police department have been posting informative videos on safety and security to their Twitter accounts, and hopes to create an updated video on what LBCC’s police role is on campus.