Code Blue dispatches police

After the sun sets, the lush greenery of the UW campus only intensifies darkness, shrouding the winding pathways in deep shadow, away from the already-dim lights. Tense shoulders and a quickened pace are common signs of a stress different than that caused by homework and exams.

"The fact that it's a city campus with the Ave. right in our backyard, with the recent violence north of 45th, makes people feel more uneasy," said Angelena Crown, director of the ASUW Committee Organizing Rape Education.

While passing through the shadows, night walkers will occasionally come across a different kind of light [HTML_REMOVED] a soft blue light.

These are the Code Blue stations.

For more than 15 years, these tall, slender towers have offered a very simple service to anyone in need: a single red button labeled "push for help." A push of that button will start a strobe light flashing above to attract attention, place an automatic 911 call and prompt a speakerphone.

The UW police station will automatically send an officer to the scene.

"If it gets pushed and you can't say anything [HTML_REMOVED] maybe you are in a scuffle with somebody there or something [HTML_REMOVED] we still dispatch somebody to that location to check on the phone," said Ray Wittmier, assistant UW police chief.

The presence of the Code Blue stations, though, might not be enough to deter a criminal.

"The thing is, if something bad is going to happen when you're out in the dark, there isn't much you can do about it, whether there's lighting or not," Crown said. "If somebody wants to hurt you, they're going to hurt you. It's the same thing in the daytime."

The recent shootings at Virginia Tech and in the UW's own Gould Hall lend weight to that statement. Both shootings took place during morning hours in areas with other people around.

There are many other precautions that can make walking safer, be it at night or during the day. Being aware of your surroundings, traveling in groups and having a cell phone handy in case an emergency call is necessary are good examples, Crown said.

While the Code Blue stations are only a part of on-campus safety tactics, ASUW President Cullen White mentioned the importance of knowing they're available.

"The fact is, they're here, and we need to make sure we make use of them whenever needed," he said. "We need to make sure people are educated about what they're for."

The purpose and location of the stations [HTML_REMOVED] not to mention how they work [HTML_REMOVED] isn't necessarily common knowledge.

"It's just like any other safety equipment," Wittmier said. "It doesn't mean a lot to you until you need it."

Reach reporter Trevor Klein at news@thedaily.washington.edu.