Student Gov. to release $50,000 safety app

Next semester the University of Memphis will roll out a new app that will allow students and faculty to discreetly and quickly report on-campus crimes.

The new app is the latest effort in an series of upgrades aimed to improve campus safety in the wake of recent campus shootings across the United States. This news comes after a $400,000 plan bytheUofMtoreplaceall door locks on campus with dead bolts that can be locked from the inside.

The goal is to prevent potential incidents before they occur.

 

“The security of this campus is our number one priority†-David Knowles, President of Student Government 

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Known as LiveSafe, the app will cost the University $51,666, with an annual cost of $17,222 over the next three years.

David Knowles, president of the Student Government Association, believes this app is an innovative way to help student safety.

“The security of this campus is our number one priority,†he said. “When most people think of Memphis, they think of high crime and The First 48. We believe this app will help this campus be a safer environment.â€

The LiveSafe app will allow students to tell campus police of crimes happening at the U of M. The app will also allow students to send pictures, video and audio to police. It also has what’s called a “Panic Button,†which will allow campus police to know your exact location in the event

of a crime. LiveSafe also includes a Command Dashboard, which will allow safety officials to monitor and respond to students at a faster rate.

“We think this is a great feature because sometimes you may not be able to reach your phone if something takes place,†Knowles said. “If someone has a weapon right next to you, taking your phone out and calling campus police won’t be an option.â€

Several school across the United States have already partnered with LiveSafe, including Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, University of Southern California, Kentucky, and Virginia Commonwealth. The founders of the LiveSafe organization include a mugging victim and a survivor of the Virginia Tech shootings.

While the price has been set, who exactly is fitting the bill is still being worked out, Knowles said.

“Our goal is to have as much money as possible come from the SGA,†he said. “Hopefully by next semester everything will be figured out.â€

The news of the app has received mixed reviews from students.

Fowler Jones, a junior at the University, believes this app is totally unnecessary.

“How can an app help me if I’m getting robbed,†he asked. “I feel like I’m wasting my tuition. I could probably contact campus police just as fast without an app.â€

Maher Soliman, junior, agrees with Jones’s statement.

“If it costs that much to make, it should be something top of the line. This seems like something that’s not even remotely helpful,†he said.