EAST LANSING. Mich. They number more than 150, and although not as old as Michigan State University, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, MSU’s “green light” telephones have their own history of serving the university community and campus visitors.
For more than 40 years MSU has operated the Green Light Telephone System, a network of telephones strategically placed in campus parking areas, along campus walkways and roadways, and in some MSU classroom buildings.
“The safety of members of our campus community and visitors to campus is an important issue for MSU,” said Mike Rice deputy chief of police at MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS). “Campus police respond immediately to all emergency calls made from the Green Light telephones. And, new phones are added to the network as university structures, including parking ramps, are remodeled or constructed.”
Rice said in an emergency there are two ways individuals needing assistance can use the system, which also can be used for regular on-campus calls or to arrange for a late-night ride with the Capital Area Transit Authority.
There’s an emergency 911 dial on the keypad callers can use to put them directly in contact with the police dispatcher on campus where the calls are recorded.
A second option for those needing help, but who are unable to initiate voice contact, is the emergency 911 button that may be pushed. With either option no voice contact is necessary, Rice said, because the location of the phone is pre-identified so campus police may respond to that location.
Individuals with physical impairments should use the second option.
Locations of the Green Light telephones are identified by green stars on the official MSU campus map, red stars on the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety Web site map, at www.dpps.msu.edu, and red stars on the DPPS visitor’s maps, which can be picked up at the DPPS Building, 87 Red Cedar Road.