MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Blue light poles can be seen all over Millersville University's campus. If a student needs an officer, he or she can hit the red button to contact police. It is one way the university keeps students safe. This semester, Millersville University, Elizabethtown College and Franklin and Marshall College all adopted another campus safety tool; the app LiveSafe.
"Campus safety is very critical now. We’ve had a lot of incidents, around the country, that are looking at safety features and this app definitely help enhance that safety component," said Millersville graduate student and LiveSafe app committee chair, Joseph Seborowski.
The app allows students to use their cellphones to have text conversations directly with police. Students can send anonymous tips, share concerns about mental health and report sexual assaults. They can also let police know about simple things like broken glass or icy sidewalks. The app also gives students a place to see emergency news, weather information and advice on what to do in certain situations.
Over 800 Millersville students are already using the app. The most popular feature is safe walk which allows a student to have a user virtually walk with them.
"If you’re in a situation where you may not be able to give out your location we can track that on the app as well," said Seborowski.
If a student stops walking, the friend can send a message to make sure he or she is okay. If the user does not answer, there is a 9-1-1 button. Staff and even parents can use the app too.