The story of the blue light system on Alfred University’s campus has been fraught with addendums and complications. Since 2016, President Zupan has been a part of conversations regarding the future of the blue light system.
Alfred University students have seen the tell-tale blue glow coming from Alfred State’s campus, but the University itself is a deadzone. Students have access to the Rave Guardian app, which is only available on some smartphones, however, this campus is notorious for having little connectivity and spotty data support.
Public Safety’s office being placed on the second floor of Powell Campus Center, as well as their availability at all-hours, is meant to bridge the gap between the app and the experience while we wait for a definitive answer as to whether the blue lights will be coming back online. However, a lone station in the middle of campus isn’t helpful if an altercation were to occur, for instance, down by Merrill Field.
“I strongly support the re-institution of the blue lights and have been pushing for them to be brought back for a few years. I believe that they are important to the safety and security of campus,” said former chief officer of Public Safety, Jessica Middaugh, back in February of 2022. “Even though Guardian is a great tool, there is always a chance that something may malfunction, so there should always be a backup plan. You also must consider that on occasions, people forget, lose, or break their phone. We owe it to our community to not exclude them from a safety option.”
Other, newer faculty to Alfred University’s campus have noticed the distinct lack of blue in the night. Dr. Michelle Tichy, a new hire for the Psychology department, has made it clear that bringing the blue light system back online should be a top priority in keeping students safe.
We shall see if the call for blue lights returns with Dr. Angie Taylor’s climate survey or if Alfred University is stuck with only the Rave Guardian app for emergencies.
If you, or someone you know, are in need of emergency assistance, do not hesitate to call 911 or Public Safety at 607-871-2108 (2108 from campus phones).