Shedding some light on the UMass Blue Light System

They are here to make campus safer for everyone – even the animals

It can be hard to know how safe a college campus really is, and with violence in the news across the country, extra measures are being taken to protect the safety and security of students everywhere.

Across the United States, many universities, including UMass, have implemented security programs like the Help Phones and Blue Light System. Our Blue Light System on campus is another measure that helps to protect the safety of us students, whether we feel unsafe walking alone on campus, or we see something happen and we want to report it.

However, even though the blue lights are pretty visible from most points on campus, their uses are otherwise unknown. Some students are even unaware this system exists.

I spoke with Ian Cyr, the Deputy Chief of Operations from UMass Police Department, who helped me shed some light on the Blue Light System.

The Help Phone near Southwest Shelter


Some history on the UMass Blue Light System

Deputy Chief Cyr said that the help phones have been on campus all of the 20 years that he has been on campus, and probably even before that.

While their use on campus has decreased over the years, it was used heavily 10 years ago, and even more 20 years ago in the age where *gasp* cell phones didn’t exist.

How it works

The Help Phones, which are topped with a bright blue light, are spread throughout campus at 115 locations and look a lot like pay-phones. The yellow telephone box has a giant red button that connects you directly to a UMPD dispatcher.  By pressing the button, it also helps dispatchers find your location on campus.

By pressing the red button, the call registers as a 911 call to the police department and is prioritized over other calls.

You can find more about the Help Phones and their locations here.

Instances where the Help Phones are used

At first, I thought that help phones were most commonly used if something was happening that required police assistance, like an assault. Mr. Cyr mentioned that people use the help phones for many situations, in situations where one might think: “I don’t feel safe, someone’s following me, I’m lost, someone’s hurt,  if there’s an accident, there’s a fire,” and then he adds, chuckling: “even if there’s a hurt animal.”

Save our squirrels! Use the blue lights!


I initially thought that some of the help phones may be slightly dilapidated and wouldn’t work if I pressed the button to call for help, based on their rusty and non-cellular appearance, but Deputy Cyr assured me that the phones get tested every two weeks but officers on duty. They make sure that the dispatcher and the person in need of assistance have a good connection, and they make sure that the dispatcher can locate the phone that the officers are at while testing.

Another concern I brought up with Deputy Cyr was that many people do not know the functions of the Blue Light System, or even what it is.

He realizes that there isn’t enough information about the Help Phone available for students. He admitted that he wasn’t sure if the system was mentioned during campus tours for prospective students, and that the UMPD doesn’t have a strong online presence to get the information out about the help phones.

He said that there needs to be more outreach to educational components to get the word out about this widely unknown form of campus safety.

He also assured me that the police department wants to help students, even when they have a problem as small as a slight feeling of uneasiness when walking around.

How to stay safe at UMass

The UMPD and I both strongly believe that UMass Amherst is a safe campus. However, you can never be too careful. Here are some tips on how to look out for yourself!

  • Calling a friend as accountability
    • Call a friend and tell them where you’re going, and to check in after 10 or so minutes. If they don’t hear from you, have them contact authorities.
  • Download Companion or another safety app for your phone
    • Companion is an app that lets you select a contact that can look at your GPS position if you walk alone at night. The app send you a notification every few minutes. If you don’t respond in a certain amount of time, it will send a text to your selected contacts and alert the authorities. Find out more here. I have this app and I love it, it makes me feel more secure if I’m walking back from work late at night.
  • Walk in groups.
    • While walking alone at night is sometimes inevitable, try to walk with at least one other trusted person.  It will keep you at ease and make sure you stay safe.

Finally, don’t be scared to contact the UMPD. They oversee an escort service that can walk you back to your dorm if you feel unsafe walking alone.

Remember; your safety is never an inconvenience, so call them if you need help!

Just look at their adorable horses!

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