Rutgers University has implemented a pilot program that allows students to text alert authorities by text message.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Studies have shown that most Americans actually prefer to send a text message than to make a phone call, according to a survey conduct by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
Embracing this increasing trend, Rutgers University has implemented a pilot program that allows students to use text messaging to contact police officers already out in the streets on patrol.
Though it's not meant specifically to combat crime, the new program comes as the state university deals with robberies, burglaries and assaults against its students around the flagship New Brunswick campus.
By typing "RUNB" along with a message in the body of the text and sending to 69050, a message will go directly to police already on patrol, allowing authorities to respond quickly.
"The beauty of this system is, you can text message pictures (and) instant information that can be broadcast to our personnel on the road," said Rutgers police Chief Kenneth Cop.
The system, put into effect earlier this year, was engineered by student leaders at Rutgers and the Rutgers police force. It was funded by the student government at the college's New Brunswick campus.
According to Cop, the Rutgers police force has received around 150 messages.
However, none have been for emergency or criminal incidents. Cop said the primary role of the system is for nonemergency incidents -- like weather-related situations during snow, escort requests in which Rutgers police will pick up and transport students, and other matters that are less urgent.
Nevertheless, he said, "We are never going to ignore an (emergency) situation."
This all started last year we collaborated with other big 10 colleges and we were looking for a way to make students feel more safe on campus.
He said the study body saw that some universities had security systems that functioned through an app on a smartphone. The Rutgers student body, he said, wanted to take it a step further by implementing a system that functions through text messaging.
The system cost $14,000 to implement -- $5,500 of which was contributed by the student body. The rest came from several university organizations that saw the benefit of such a program.
But beyond the practical application of the system, Matt Panconi, president of the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA), said the project also served to enhance the voices of students who want to enact positive change on campus.
"I've been trying to bring us a stronger student voice," Panconi said. "Bringing all of these groups together, the students can achieve a common goal like that -- it makes everyone feel safer and it shows the capability of Rutgers (police) coming together with the student body."
Campus alert systems accessible on smartphones or email are nothing new; many colleges have adopted similar programs.
But Panconi said he believes Rutgers is the first or one of the first universities, at least among the Big Ten, to implement a campuswide, text-messaging security system that directly communicates to officers on patrol.
"It is a more modern and convenient way to communicate," Cop said.
The technology is pulling its weight, Cop said -- students are using the system regularly. The campus encountered a string of robberies and assaults last week -- two involving Rutgers students. Nevertheless, Cop noted that crime is down and that the system was made more for convenience.
He also said it showed how the student government and police force can come together as a community to solve problems.
Though the system has not been implemented at the college's Newark and Camden campuses, Cop said each has expressed interest in adopting the program.
"We built the system with the capacity for the Newark and Camden campuses" if and when either want to adopt the program, he said.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.