Blue lights not so special

The one emergency phone located on the path between Jordan Avenue and Ballantine Hall is wrapped up -- much like many IU students attempting to front winter's latest blast of cold.\nBut unlike students, the emergency phone is not wearing earmuffs or a ski jacket. Instead, it dawns a garbage bag, duct tape and an out of order sign.\nBut those closely associated with the phones can't explain why.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger was unaware of the out-of-service phone. So was Assistant Dean of Women's Affairs Carol McCord. \nBoth said any phones out-of-service, once reported, are normally fixed within a 24-hour period. Apparently, this phone is an exception. The phone was recently installed during the completion of the Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center.\nAccording to an Operations Department employee, the phone is out-of-service for a particular reason. University officials can't decide who will pay the monthly fee to operate the phone.\nMike Edwards, an employee with the IU Electronics Department, declined to comment on whether this was the cause for the phone's defunct status.\nLori Brown, a central dispatcher for IU Telecommunications, said orders to replace out-of-service emergency phones are normally given to the Electronics department.\nCampus phones are supposed to be maintained, and those not properly maintained could pose an unsafe situation, Minger said.\nBut Minger said IUPD has never received an emergency call to provide personal protection from a blue-light phone. \n"Typically, the campus itself is a pretty safe environment," Minger said. "But there isn't a way to quantify crimes that didn't happen on account of the blue-lights presence. A criminal is not inept to commit a crime when they know the area might have a quick police response."\nParking Operations has taken on the responsibility of maintaining many of the phones in the parking structures, Minger said.\nThe Commission for Personal Safety will sponsor a walk through campus March 19 to examine safety concerns. \n"The walk will provide the opportunity for people to make suggestions -- if we need more lighting or emergency phones," McCord said. "Walks throughout campus are usually conducted once or twice a year." \nThe time and place for the walk-through will be announced at a later date, McCord said.\n"The event is open to all members and concerns, and suggestions are welcomed," she said.