The Penn State Emergency Phone System is designed to aid in providing security to the University community. It does this by performing several functions:
- Citizens can quickly report emergencies or criminal activity directly to police, even in relatively remote areas.
- Visitors to residential areas can phone to be escorted into the building without entering it.
- No money is necessary to use the phones.
Emergency/Courtesy Phones
Often referred to as "call boxes," these phones can be recognized by the blue light above them. Under the blue light is a phone located inside a box with a standard receiver and keypad. University Police can be reached by dialing 5222.
Residence Hall Emergency/Courtesy Phones
These phones are identical in appearance to the call boxes described above but do not have a blue light. These phones are located in the residence hall areas, usually near the entrances of a residence hall. These phones enable visitors to call a resident for an escort when the residence hall is secured. These phones are activated the same way as the standard emergency/courtesy phones described above.