NMSU To Remove Emergency Phones

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – The 24 emergency blue light phones that have dotted the campus of New Mexico State University for more than two decades will be removed this week when students are on spring break.

Police say cell phones make the emergency phones unnecessary. The phones often were used for prank calls or activated by accident.

The phones provided a direct connection to campus police.

NMSU Police Chief Jaime Chavez says about 1,000 calls per year come in through the phones.

NMSU’s emergency notification system allows all students to be directly contacted via text messages and phone calls if a major incident happens.

But some students were angry about not being consulting about the phones’ removal.

Junior Naomi Estrada says the phones are vital in case of attacks or attempted rapes.

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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)