SEAMLESS SAFETY
ECU provides new mobile safety app for students
East Carolina University is taking safety to the next level by placing a virtual blue light in the pocket of students, faculty and staff through LiveSafe, a safety smartphone application.
LiveSafe provides seamless two-way communication between users and campus safety officials to directly and anonymously report concerns using text messaging, audio, video and photos. The free app is available through Google Play and iTunes and is intended to make reporting safety concerns easier and less intimidating.
“You can provide tips to police anonymously. I think that’s a big thing for students because they want to report but don’t necessarily want to provide their information like their name,” said graduate student Kyle Kwiatkowski.
When a student messages police during an emergency situation, dispatchers can live chat with them to provide instructions while police are en route if talking or calling attention to the student is not wanted.
Ogaga Tebehaevu, an ECU Office of Environmental Health & Safety employee, tests the app’s ability to directly contact campus police.
“We want to have enough information to appropriately intervene or stop concerning or dangerous behavior and criminal activity. Photos and video are great tools to give visual confirmation to what is being reported,” said Deputy Chief Jason Sugg of ECU Police.
In addition to reporting safety concerns, LiveSafe provides another popular feature: SafeWalk. Students can invite a friend to virtually walk with them by monitoring their location through a GPS enabled map. During the walk friends can live chat to remain in constant contact and a 911 button is available for both users if they feel help is needed immediately. ECU’s SafeRide program can be contacted through LiveSafe as well.
“I tend to go to the library late at night with my roommate so having someone watch us when we walk would be helpful,” said Natalie Leitz, a senior communications major.
The app also includes information about victim and mental health services on campus and a safety map to help students and guests get around ECU quickly. “We want sufficient information to provide support resources to those who may need it. Sometimes people simply need to be pointed in the right direction,” said Sugg.
The search for a mobile safety application on ECU’s campus began after a recommendation was included in the 2013-2014 Campus Security Initiatives report. Campus safety officials and the Student Government Association selected LiveSafe as the vendor and began working with them in the fall of 2015 to personalize the app for ECU. A group of students, faculty and staff tested the app’s functions around campus earlier this semester and had positive reactions about the experience.
“LiveSafe makes me feel a lot safer when walking around the campus area. It is fast and easy to use while being inconspicuous. The police also seem to respond very quickly, which makes me feel like they are always right there with me,” said Savannah Parker, an environmental health student who tested the app.
The app will supplement many safety initiatives already on campus such as blue lights, security cameras and safety patrol.
Several other colleges and universities in the state including UNC-Greensboro and UNC-Charlotte use LiveSafe on their campuses. The app was co-founded by Kristina Anderson, a survivor of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, as a way to use technology as a tool to prevent further campus tragedies.
To download LiveSafe or for more information, visit www.ecu.edu/LiveSafe.
Below: Natalie Leitz, a senior communications major, invites a friend to virtually walk with her using the app’s SafeWalk feature. Using a GPS-enabled map, friends can watch you walk to make sure you arrive at your destination safely.