CHENEY – In an effort to improve public safety for the students of Eastern Washington University (EWU), the campus will be using a new safety notification system starting June 1. The new EagleSafe mobile app is already available for download and is supported through Rave Mobile Safety, and will also be offered via a computer version.
According to the Chief of EWU’s Police Department, Jewell Day, the change was necessary for the campus to keep up with technological modernizations. Claiming the old system did well, but it is outdated, and they needed a more effective platform.
“The college has been using the Omnilert system for 15 years,” said Chief Day. “It did very well through the course of that time, but we needed something better and more modern.”
“So after surveying a few potential options we went with Rave because they offered the most well-rounded service,” Day added.
This app stands out in a couple of ways according to the chief, and it starts with having better options for app users and more immediate results, meaning the reaction time for law enforcement is better.
One major upgrade is the app features a mobile bluelight service that allows users to immediately contact law enforcement without having to be at a physical bluelight station.
Explaining some other features integrated into the safety app, Chief Day said the escort options also set this app apart.
“With the virtual escort students will be able to be put in contact with a campus officer,” Day said. “From there they can have the officer virtually walk them home in situations in which a student may feel uncomfortable.”
“Of course, officers would be immediately dispatched in an emergency situation, but this allows some extra comfort when someone is simply walking home after hours,” added Chief Day.
The built in chat feature allows a constant text connection as well if that works best for a student, but it provides continuous safety coverage students need according to Day. Day also continued by emphasizing how important it is for the app to present a form of two-way communication rather than only sending information out as they have done.
Sometimes students are more comfortable in the company of friends than authority figures, and the app solves that by having a friend escort function which serves in essentially the same way as the virtual escort, only with a friend rather than an officer.
Building on that, Chief Day explains the app even goes one step further with a social escape button allowing the user to have the app call their phone, giving them a reason to leave unpleasant circumstances.
“Many times, students can get stuck in an uncomfortable situation during a night out and they may not really know what to do,” said Day. “This gives them a way out of those potentially dangerous situations.”
Noting one major improvement from the Omnilert system, Day explained that students attending the Spokane locations, Catalyst and SIERR, are also covered under this program.
“I feel that it is extremely important that we can now better serve our Spokane buildings as well,” Day said. “We want to offer the best service and protection we can to all of the students, and they will have the same options as students at the main campus.”
Confident in the program, Day explained this platform is “full-go” as of June 1, and there is no pilot or testing phase.
“It’s been a campus need for some time,” Day concluded. “Rave and EagleSafe will finally offer the strong safety platform we have been waiting for.”
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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