UMaine says it’s not deactivating blue gentle security poles
The blue gentle security poles on the College of Maine’s campus are nonetheless energetic, the varsity clarified Friday, as college students raised issues that the college was discontinuing the system.
A number of security poles — which permit folks to name 911 with a press of a button — had plastic protecting them the week college students moved in, junior Jason Durkee stated.
Seeing a mass of blue gentle poles coated with out communication gave Durkee a foul intestine feeling, he stated.
“My first response was undoubtedly that of quite a lot of concern,” Durkee stated.
College students posted on social media, fearful the college was deactivating the poles on the Orono campus, college spokesperson Eric Gordon stated. The college just isn’t deactivating the poles, he stated.
A campus-wide test of the poles discovered some weren’t functioning correctly. These poles are being repaired, Gordon stated.
“I’ll consider it after I see it,” Durkee stated. “At this level I don’t know [that] I’ve a ton of belief within the college due to the way in which they failed to speak it with us.”
QR codes had been posted on the poles to let college students know in regards to the Black Bear Secure app, Gordon stated. The app is designed to be a cellular blue gentle that calls UMaine police and offers a location so folks can obtain quick assist.
The free app, together with the blue gentle poles and different sources, is a part of the college’s complete security technique, Gordon stated.
“I hope that the college sticks to its phrase,” Durkee stated. “I hope that their dedication to scholar security is extra than simply verbal assurance. I hope that they discover a solution to achieve their belief again with college students over time.”
