Hofstra University Public Safety introduces the Hofstra Safe app. // Photo courtesy of Hofstra Public Safety.

After creating a new app to make Hofstra University safer, Hofstra Public Safety held a workshop with Student Access Services (SAS) on Monday, Oct. 10, to teach students how to use it. HofstraSafe, an app aimed to promote a push-button response to Public Safety, was launched on Sept. 28.

Public Safety’s goal was to connect with students. To do that, the campus security personnel had to move from their landlines and think mobile.

“We know that students really access information via the phone. That’s just the reality of it. So our thought was, ‘how do we meet them where they are?’ And we thought let’s get some information out on the phone, which is going to make them more comfortable,” said Geraldine Hart, associate vice president of Public Safety and Community Engagement. “We met with representatives from Student Affairs who could sit with us and help us because we didn’t want to just make it what we think it should be, but really what the campus wants.”

The app, which is available to download in the App Store or Google Play Store, has nine key features: emergency numbers, mobile blue light, share my trip, safety tool kit, campus map, emergency plans, emergency support, Hofstra shuttle tracker and non-emergency resources.

The “share my trip” feature can send your location to a friend on campus to track you if you feel like you are unsafe.

To access this feature, you must be a Hofstra student with a 700 number. However, Public Safety says that you can send anyone your location via the text feature or the instant messaging app Snapchat.

“You can use it off campus and on campus,” Hart said. Additionally, the feature tracks the entire route the user has taken.

Android and iPhone users can utilize the “Share My Location” feature in the message or maps app on their phones. Its users can see the geographical location of their friend or family member when they are in an unsafe situation. Hart explained that HofstraSafe is one step ahead of the technology giants.

“If anything happens along the way, [the person who is tracking your location] will be able to call Public Safety, which is different, and we’ll be notified immediately,” Hart said.

Many students agree that this was a good addition to the Hofstra Safe app, but at the same time, students feel like they forgot to include some important features regarding students with disabilities.

“Having the location of different accessibility ramps and entrances into buildings would be important to have just so people would know how to get into them if they can’t use the regular doors,” said Brandon Gilmore, a graduate rehabilitation counseling student. “Just to have a little extra addition so people know and make it easier to navigate around campus because it is just so big.”

Gilmore also added that Student Health Services should be more prominent on the app, saying that mental health is a big part of a student’s safety.

“Your mental well being is so critical to your success when it comes to your education and getting the most out of being here. I think it’s important to have that mental health aspect there,” Gilmore said. “Being able to just go in and be like, ‘I want to schedule an appointment.’ And you can reach out to them right away instead of going through the website and [put in your] email. Being able to see what programs the counseling center is offering on any given day is beneficial as well.”

Right now, for emergencies, the Mobile BlueLight will alert Public Safety of your exact location on campus. Hart explained that this feature will provide quicker responses to domestic disputes.

“There’s no sign in, there’s no email address, you just tap [the bluelight],” Hart said. “That’s an automatic notification to public safety. Your geolocation and a phone call comes into Public Safety. There’s a dedicated monitor out at the front desk, and that immediately alerts that somebody has activated it.”

Students expressed relief after the launch of this app.

“It’s really nice that the app is on its own [platform]; that will make me feel safer,” said  Logan Wilbur, a freshman creative writing major. “It also is really reassuring that the school cares. Money, effort, time and care is put into keeping everyone safe.“

Although the app has been released, Hart says Public Safety is open to feedback to better serve the community.

“We’re always open to suggestions. So if there’s some ideas that can improve the app, it’s an open and ongoing kind of living process,” Hart said.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the HofstraSafe app contact Erika Schaub, assistant director of Public Safety at 516-463-5320.