ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia invested $7.3 million in campus security upgrades, including increased lighting, perimeter fencing, license plate readers, and emergency call stations.
“There is no higher priority at the University of Georgia than the safety and security of our campus community,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We continually evaluate our safety programs in close collaboration with our partners. Our ongoing investments are strengthening virtually all aspects of campus security.”
Funding for the new measures came from state funding, partner organizations, and private donations from organizations such as the UGA Parents Leadership Council, the UGA Foundation, the President’s Venture Fund, and the UGA Athletic Association, according to Red and Black.
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The school also used the funding to hire Campus Safety Ambassadors in June. P. Daniel Silk, the university’s associate vice president for public safety who is overseeing the implementation of improved security initiatives across campus, said CSAs are not police officers but their after-hours presence in areas where students often walk and congregate on campus will magnify the impact of other campus safety efforts.
CSAs can escort students to their housing and other areas on campus and will be able to communicate with police via radio if there is an emergency or incident that requires officers. Funding for the ambassadors is part of a permanent 20% increase to the UGA Police Department’s budget, which Silk said also enabled the department to improve recruitment and retention efforts and increase the number of campus safety employees.
Lighting, Technology Upgrades Underway
Over the summer, more crosswalks were added, particularly near residence halls with high foot traffic, which university leaders say augment ongoing efforts to evaluate lighting across campus. UGA also improved lighting around sidewalks near residences, and nearly 400 lights on campus are being converted to LED technology, Morgan County Citizen reports.
The school installed the first of 20 automated license plate readers that will work in conjunction with UGA’s existing camera system, which offers over 500 camera views. New signage has also been implemented that emphasizes the presence of security cameras throughout campus.
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Additionally, new perimeter fencing is being installed in several areas on campus, and the UGA Smart Ride program, which offers a 50% discount on Lyft rides for UGA students, has been extended four hours per day and will now operate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
“Many students have utilized the Ride Smart program to travel safely across campus and the greater Athens area,” said Rock Rogers, incoming president of the Student Governing Association. “It offers a secure travel option, and with the extended operation hours, students now have more convenient access to this resource. This initiative has significantly contributed to the safety of students traveling on and off campus.”
The program has reportedly provided rides for 85,000 UGA students since its Dec. 2021 launch.
Call Boxes Installed After UGA Campus Murder
In February, 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was murdered while out for a jog on the UGA campus. Following her death, students and parents urged UGA to quickly implement security improvements, including the installation of emergency call boxes.
Immediately following the incident, a UGA student started a petition urging for the installation of these systems in the area where Riley’s body was found. The petition received nearly 26,000 signatures. At the time of the murder, UGAPD’s website said the campus used to have call boxes but determined they were no longer necessary.
Emergency call boxes with cameras are being installed as part of the latest upgrades. The new call box systems are said to offer multifunctional capabilities that incorporate security cameras, additional lighting, and Wi-Fi, which will facilitate calls using the Internet. They will be installed in areas of campus deemed to benefit from additional camera coverage and improved lighting.
The UGA Safe App also provides a “Mobile BlueLight” to immediately call UGAPD and share the user’s location.
