BRANDON – With thousands and students, faculty and staff back into the full swing of the fall term, Brandon University (BU) is asking everyone to familiarize themselves with the many safety and security features on campus.
“Brandon University is a compact, safe and welcoming environment, filled with many caring people, and we are proud to have generally a very safe campus,” said Physical Plant director Gordon Neal. “To that, we add our professional security personnel and we take advantage of technology to deter incidents, investigate if needed, and make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable here at BU.”
There are about 90 security cameras covering the campus, careful environmental design to promote safety and security, and security staff who are on duty night and day.
Neal says that the four emergency Blue Phones are some of the more noticeable security features around campus. They are located on the north side of the Knowles-Douglas Student Union Building, on the north side of the A.E. McKenzie Building, on the west side of the George T. Richardson Building, and on the south side of the Healthy Living Centre.
“These four emergency phones each have a blue beacon shining at the top, so they’re very visible when activated, and they include a direct line to 911 for emergency situations 24 hours a day, every day,” Neal said. “There is also the option to dial our non-emergency number and connect with our Physical Plant, so people can use the phones to alert us to safety situations like icy areas or cracked pavement, or even unsightly graffiti. It’s a great option for people who may not have a cell phone.”
For those who do have a smartphone or tablet, Brandon University has also launched a new safety app this year, called BSAFE, which brings digital and connected tools to your fingertips.
“We’re really happy with the enthusiasm shown for BSAFE so far,” Neal said. “Along with innovative safety features like allowing a friend to remotely walk home with you, the app brings emergency procedures and student supports to the fore, so that everyone has a timely way to find appropriate information. We can also send out alerts to all users, if we have a snowstorm that closes campus, for example.”
BSAFE can be downloaded for both iPhone and Android devices:
A safe campus is also a pleasant campus, Neal points out.
“Everyone knows that it gets dark early through the winter months, so we take care to have a well-lit campus throughout, in parking lots and paths especially,” he says. “Certainly, this adds to our safety plan, but it also creates an attractive and welcoming look to illuminate our architecture and open spaces for everyone.”
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