In response to two murders of students in the University of North Carolina system, researchers at East Carolina University last week suggested that officials adopt safety measures like portable transmitters that activate blue lights within 100 feet and tracking devices if students press panic buttons.

But Northwestern officials said they thought such devices were impractical on NU’s urban campus.

Daniel McAleer, assistant chief of University Police, questioned the effectiveness of devices that only reach 100 feet, especially when blue lights are located only on campus. The transmitters would not protect students who are in downtown Evanston or walking to off-campus housing.

“It’s not necessarily beneficial to the person carrying the device,” he said.

NU installed new emergency phones and call boxes in September 2004 and offers a nighttime student escort service that received additional funding in May.

In order for a tracking system to work, NU would have to make an agreement with the Evanston police because UP’s jurisdiction is limited, McAleer said. Otherwise, he said, students might press the panic button when they are too far off campus for UP to respond.

The technological advances may also be difficult to implement in North Carolina. A representative for Linear Corp., which makes the receivers that tie into the blue light system, estimated that a transmitting system could cost $200,000.

Matthew Powell, assistant director of ECU’s Center for Wireless and Mobile Computing, said the school is looking for other universities to share the cost of the new security systems.

“Universities all around might be interested,” he said.

Powell said research surrounding the new technology is not yet complete. Researchers at ECU have identified technology, conducted field studies and held a conference with Linear and other vendors, but they are waiting for the school’s approval to test how effective the devices will be.

Security issues are not uncommon at NU, which saw a rash of student muggings starting spring 2003.

Weinberg freshman Allison DeFelice was walking home from Barnes and Noble last quarter when a man emerged from the darkness and asked if she had a dollar.

“As I kept walking, he was whispering behind me, ‘Ooh, don’t talk to strangers,'” she said.

Some NU students said they felt relatively safe without transmitters or tracking devices.

“There are some times when you’re the only one walking around, but then there’s the little security golf cart going around, so that makes things feel more secure,” said Weinberg sophomore Jonathan Carrico.

Powell said he thought the new devices would improve safety.

“I could send you one right now and you could be safe walking down to a K-Mart parking lot,” he said.

Reach Lauren Pond [email protected].