University of Memphis students living on campus can look forward to getting caller ID services in their dorm rooms at no extra charge.
According to Mark Reavis, associate director of network services, caller ID will be available to all students living on campus by Fall 2001.
"It's a large project," said Keith Shupert, a communication systems specialist who is over the project. "I think there are about 2,000 dorm rooms on campus, but we're making progress."
The telecommunication department has been working on the project for about four weeks, Shupert said. Residence halls Rawls, West, Smith, Mynders and Richardson Towers South have already had caller ID installed. Workers have to go from room to room, dorm to dorm, changing out the circuit packs.
"We've moved into Towers North," Shupert said. "We hope to finish it up by (next) Friday."
After Richardson Towers is finished, installation will begin at Robinson, South and Tiger Paw. During the summer, Shupert said, network services hopes to finish South Campus housing.
Reavis noted the bomb threat incident on March 27, and how the telecommunications department was able to help public safety apprehend Carlos Coleman, a sophomore student arrested Monday for phoning in the threat. The telecommunication department used their caller ID services to inform public safety of the number from which the call came.
Reavis said if all students had information on who was calling them, it might reduce the number of harassing phone calls. He said students would also have a choice about the phone calls they could answer.
"If students are receiving harassing calls, they would be able to get information to safety services quickly," Reavis said.
"I think it's wonderful," said Roger Fowler, director of public safety.
According to Reavis, the project will cost just over $200,000 -- money already in The University's budget.
"This is so important from a security aspect that we're not making anybody pay extra," Reavis said.
The student will have to provide the caller ID phone or accessories in order to use this service. Reavis said one can go to K-Mart, Wal-Mart or any other store and buy either a caller ID-capable phone or a caller ID box.
"Wal-Mart sells the little box real cheap," Reavis said. "The phones (with caller ID) range anywhere from $20 all the way up to $60, depending on if they want an answering machine built in."
"This is something we (the telecommunication department) have done on our own," Reavis said.
"Danny Armitage of residence life was thrilled to hear we were doing this," Reavis said. "He thinks the students will be very happy."
Armitage, who Reavis credited with the original idea, was unavailable for comment Thursday.
According to Reavis, the caller ID will pick up any incoming call on or off campus. The only numbers that will not be available are private numbers. No caller ID system is able to get those numbers.
Students living on campus had positive things to say about the caller ID system.
"I think it is a good security measure, especially for females, who fall victim more easily than males," said Matt Ingram, a freshman criminal justice major who lives in Richardson Towers South.
"I think it's a good idea, but if anybody calls and wants to talk to me, let's talk," said West Hall resident Adrienne Ward, a sophomore music education major.
