Newswise — This spring, as security deposits are sent to colleges and universities to hold spots for incoming freshman, families and students should ask if those deposits bestow them with improved security.
With some college and university tuition, room and board costing as much as $40K each year, one would think a generous portion of that would be earmarked toward campus safety. Unfortunately, according to a recent article in Smart Money, that is not the case: colleges tend to allocate only about 1.5% of their budget for security.
"Safety is often the lowest budget priority of institutions of higher learning," says John X. Adiletta, Chief Executive Officer of Somerset International Group, Inc. (SOSI.OB), a security technology holding company formed in 2004 that addresses the increased demand for protection against campus and workplace violence. "When money's tight, administrations may cut back on security and we believe that a commitment to prevention/deterrence coupled with a dynamic response system will ultimately be more cost effective and a more compelling story for an institution's existing and potential constituents."
While Nobel Prizes are not given for school security Somerset did aid the University of Bridgeport in earning the Jeanne Clery Award, a prestigious honor given to schools in recognition of their effective use of cutting-edge technologies in improving campus safety.
In 2003, the University of Bridgeport had implemented Somerset's CAMPUS SECUREâ„¢, a system that provides every student with a small keychain fob with a panic button PAL. When the button is pressed, a proprietary location system instantly gives campus police the location of the PAL's owner and help is immediately dispatched. The device maximizes personal protection by creating a "zone of safety" across entire public spaces and inside buildings. Small enough to fit on a key ring, the PAL helps users whenever they are within the zone. A uniquely coded signal is transmitted through strategically placed receivers linked to a central computer in a security or campus police office. Additionally, a triggering event activates a blue warning light system throughout the campus, alerting all students that an emergency situation has been reported.
"For a university that decides to implement the system, the cost of the device is approximately $50 per user—barely a dent in yearly tuition and room and board fees," says Adiletta. "Student security should be a top priority for colleges. Thankfully, now it can be achieved at an affordable cost." To learn more, visit http://www.securesysteminc.com.
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