Pitt installing 'panic buttons' inside classrooms after swatting calls earlier this year
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The students are once again filling Oakland's streets and classrooms, but this year's classrooms look different at the University of Pittsburgh. With the press of a panic button, teachers and students now have 400 new ways to call for help.
The university is installing new "panic buttons" inside of classrooms. They're designed to be used by students or faculty if there is an active threat on campus. When someone hits the button, the classroom door is automatically locked and university police will be notified.
The new safety measure is being put in place after students requested a better response from campus police following a series of swatting calls back in April.
"If you press this red panic button it does two things. First thing it will do is it contacts University of Pittsburgh police of an active threat or emergency. Second thing it will do is it will electronically lock your classroom doors," said Pitt police Lt. Bradley Kiefer.
KDKA-TV tested it out and it locked the door immediately after Lt. Kiefer pressed the button. Once outside the locked door, only first responders and police can gain access.
Campus had 40 of the panic buttons last year and over the summer it grew to 400.
Not all classrooms are equipped with electronic locking doors yet, so some rooms will still need to manually lock the door after hitting the button.
"Generally speaking, they'll be either near the teaching podium or near the wall on the exit door," Kiefer said.
Sophomores Amarie Williams and Julia Wei remember last semester's swatting call that prompted chaos on campus. They called the safety upgrade a relief.
"Last semester it was a little disappointing – the lack of notification about dangerous things going on – so I am excited that they're putting those panic buttons in, it's a step in the right direction," Williams said.
"I think it's good that they're making safety measures more accessible to students so we can even alert people from the classroom, I think that's good," Wei said.
KDKA-TV asked for an update on the emergency notification system and was told they've given increased training to all those in the position to determine when and when not to send out emergency notifications. Pitt also rolled out new training videos for all students, explaining procedures for active shooters and lockdowns.
