The Student Association is considering adding call boxes to off-campus locations.

Jacob Swanson, the lead senator of the SA’s Campus Life and Greek Affairs committees, said the process is still in the developmental stage.

“That’s the ultimate goal. We’re still researching the costs and effectiveness of these call boxes outside of campus locations,” Swanson said.

Swanson could not say how many call boxes would potentially be added, nor where they would be placed. However, he said he will discuss the issue with Chief Donald Grady of the University Police and Chief Bill Feithen of the DeKalb Police Department later this week.

As of fall 2006, 81 call boxes are located on campus, with 46 of them located on the parking deck. The other 35 are scattered throughout the campus, according to Northern Star archives.

Swanson also could not name the price for a call box, noting how much time has passed since their installation.

“The last time some of those call boxes have been purchased were several years ago, so the price has probably changed,” Swanson said. Swanson said his goal was to have a plan in place by the beginning of the spring semester.

Freshman biology major Cole Lightfoot is skeptical as to whether or not more call boxes are the answer to solving crime issues on campus.

“Have they been helpful in crimes? Do they get used at all?” Lightfoot said.
Despite not having specifics, Swanson believes the majority of the SA Senate would support and fund a proposal to increase the number of call boxes.

“If I was to hear any negative feedback, it would be about the cost,” Swanson said. “In my opinion, as along as the cost is not ridiculously high, student safety should be an issue that gets this project moving forward.”

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