Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / March 31, 2010, edition 1 / Page 3
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the pendulum NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAF»CH 31. 2010 11 PAGE 3 Blue light towers provide another method of emergency contact Eva Hill Senior Reporter The red safety towers on campus often escape the minds of students in emergency situations. But these safety towers also offer an immediate, local response to emergency medical or safety information. According to Chuck Gantos, director of Campus Safety and Police, when someone pushes the button on the tower, their call is immediately directed to campus security and a flashing blue light comes on. The safety towers have been on Elon’s campus for more than 14 years, and new ones are added as the campus expands. According to Mike Thompson, manager of telecommunications at Elon, there are about 25 towers on campus, and Physical Plant spends a fair amount of time inspecting and repairing them. Thompson said the phones usually provide most of the technical issues, but the machines are tested regularly to ensure they are functioning properly. “Each tower has a phone and electronic switchboard, and these electrical devices require an average of two hours of maintenance every week,” Thompson said. “Physical plant checks the lights and changes them as needed. Every Friday night a security officer checks each unit and updates me with their status on Monday.” AccordingtoThompson, these safety structures are also costly to maintain and build. Code Blue, a company based in Michigan, manufactures the emergency telephone systems and each unit costs between $4,500 and $5,000. The costs rise with the cement used to keep them in the ground and installment charges. “There are no regulations for strategic tower placement, and administrators determine placement based on the location," Gantos said. Only two calls have been made from these safety towers in 14 years, both of which were EMT calls. With the convenience of cell phones, many students are able to program and dial 911 quickly and efficiently. Senior Alexie Anderson said cell phones are more convenient in certain situations. “In an emergency situation, I would be more likely to use my cell phone because 1 always have it with me,” Anderson said. Gantos understands the convenience of cell phones in emergency situations and said the towers add extra protection. “Most students on campus carry cell phones, and most of the emergency JACK DOOSON I Photognphw There are 25 safety towers on campus. The towers come equipped with a phone and emergency lights. To date, they have onty been used twice. communication comes from cell phones," Gantos said. “The towers are an asset, but we don’t need two or three hundred." Other students believe the safety towers are more effective in a dangerous situation than cell phones. Junior Dylan Clements said he would be more likely to use one if he needed to contact the police or 911. “If you were near one and push it, the blue light will go off. I believe this is a more effective deterrent than making a call on a cell phone," Clements said. CORRECTION: A link to a video was incorrectly listed in the Pendulum's March 17* issue. The correct link to the dodgeball story is http://www.elon.edu/pendulunr\/Story.aspx?id=3559 Elon’s tobacco habits SMOKING from Page 1 effort without offering a definite “no" as an option. “It seemed like they were doing it so when they were showing the results of it, they could word it mwe toward what they were trying to find," Mcaxxighan said. LD. Russell, a lecturer in religious studies, starts every mwrung smoking an American Spirit cigarette with his coffee. And on any given day, he smc^es about a pack a day, frequently on campus. He said he’s conscientious about his smoking on campus, trying to be mindful of pec^e around him who might not want to breathe In the secondhand sm(dce. To him, the survey rep»resents a movement in the country towards being entirely smoke free. “I'm surprised we're not a smoke free campus already since apparently we’re moving toward being a smoke-free nation," Russell said. He said he’s already seen the smoking population at Elon drop since he’s come to work here. “When I first came, it was much more of a smoking campus," he said. Martin said she would like to see Elon one day become smoke-free, but she doesn’t know if that will, happen. “1 would like to see the campus go smoke free because there’s research out there that does say that any exposure to second-hand smoke, even a little bit, can do damage,” Martin said. In part, she said, this comes from the fact that it can’t be an overnight change. “It’s one of those things where you prepare people,” she said. For now, though, both Martin and Russell said they don't think the campus is particulcirly well- versed ctti the tobacco p>olicy. Russell said the fact that many buildings have ashtrays right next to the doors can be ccmfusing, too. “It’s pertiaps a mixed message that ashtrays are so close to the buildings," he said. One proposal Russell made was to designate certain areas where people could smoke on campus, cillowing for smokers to still have a place to go on campus. Moroughan said he would be able to get behind the idea of a designated area for smdcers because the school “would have to accommodate an area for people to smoke." Russell said it could protect smokers from the weather while providing a social place for people who like to smoke. “It just seems like we could work out a way to be more inclusive," Russell said. “It’s weird to feel quarcintined.” Burlington park to add rides, seeks visitors Rachel Southmayd Senior Reporter In the Wcike of the temporary closure of a recreationjd park in Raleigh, the Burlington City Park opened for the season last weekend, planning to host unique attractions through the spring. Burlington city officials hope the temporary closure in Raleigh will attract more visitors this season. The pcirk re-opened its rides for the season in late March, featuring five amusement rides, including a carousel that’s more than one hundred years old, according to park superintendent Tim Johnson. Coleman Rich, senior lecturer at Elon and the operations and supply manager for the Love School of Business, served as the pcirk manager for the past three seasons. “1 think it’s very positive for the community,” he said. Rich said residents of the Triad and Triangle often choose to come to the City Park in Burlington instead of visiting Pullen Amusements in Raleigh. Pullen will not open for the 2010 season as it undergoes extensive renovations. Now, Burlington officials hope to add rides to the park and attract more visitors this year. “Over the yecu-s we’ve added a miniature train and some kiddie rides," Johnson said. The budget for City Park operation is $245,047, Johnson said, which is about 4.5 percent of the Burlington Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual budget. In addition to the amusement rides, the park features athletic fields, tennis courts and a grilling and picnic area. The park generates income by charging for amusement rides and for groups to use the picnic facilities for parties and events. “We normcilly turn a profit,” Johnson said. “What we mcike goes back into the genercil funds for the entire city.” New additions to the park this year include sunshades over several of the rides and Internet access. “We are in the process of adding wireless Internet," Johnson said, “Hopefully, we’ll get even more adults coming out and just er^oying the park." Johnson also said the city park amusements will be generating between 20 and 25 part-time jobs for students during the spring, summer and fall. The City of Burlington Web site reports thousands of visitors come to the City Park each year. “On a good Saturday night during the summer, we might have four or five hundred (people),” said Rich. Rich and Johnson both said many of the park’s visitors come from communities surrounding Burlington. “I’ve had out-of-towners say they wish their cities had something like this," said Rich. Johnson said the city is preparing for a larger amount of visitors this year. “I’m sure its going to increase our traffic," Johnson said, “I already have a senior group out of Raleigh that’s scheduled to come and ride our carousel.” For the rest of the spring, the park amusements will be open on the weekends, and once local schools are on summer vacation, the hours will increase to six days a week. Rich said. He said the City Park has been a tradition in the area for many years. “We grew up with it here. As kids, our parents used to take us down there," he said. “Now, you’ve got people that I grew up with taking their grandkids." Off Campus Housing for as little as $395!!! 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