Augustana College is utilizing text messaging to improve campus safety.

It's called the Mercy Notification System. In the event of an emergency or crisis situation, campus officials will immediately communicate that information to students through text message or e-mail and by a cell or land-line phone call.

Campus Safety director Rick Tupper tells KSFY that Augustana has also strategically installed three call boxes around campus. On some college campuses, call boxes are commonly referred to as the "Blue Light System." At Augie, they are tall towers painted in bright yellow with a blue light on top. The call box has two call buttons.

One button provides general information for non-emergencies. There other is an emergency button that one would press if caught in a dangerous situation. Once the button is pushed, Campus Safety dispatch answers the call and immediately sends officers to the area.

Having the call boxes makes senior art and business major Sarah Buffington feel better. She said, "I walk past here a lot and sometimes it's really dark and it's just nice to know that there's something close by that I can go to if I need help."

Augustana says the installations are in response to a string shootings on college campuses across the country.

"You might not be able to prevent it, but at least you can minimize the damage or loss of life and you can start to recover faster," said Campus Safety director Rick Tupper.

Augustana plans on installing more call boxes in the foreseen future. Students will have their first chance to sign-up for the Mercy Notification System while registering before school starts.

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KSFY's Drew Sandholm can be reached by phone at (605) 373-7372 or by e-mail.