Keeping Pierce safe, one app at a time

By Anastasiya Orel Reporter

Pierce College now is providing a mobile application with safety and security resources on campus. The app, called LAPC SAFE, has combined efforts with Pierce’s Sheriff Station to prepare students and staff with additional protection on campus.

It displays a number of features, including an emergency contact list and a campus map. The app also has a safety toolbox containing a feature called Friend Walk, providing an escort for safety purposes, a notification history function and a mobile bluelight that enables you to send your location to the blue emergency phones topped with bright lights on campus, directed to LAPC security.

Sophomore Tiffany Corina

Micu said that she believes the app is a good source to have when attending classes or events on campus.

“I’m glad that it's there,” Micu said. “It definitely could benefit campus life just by making the general population feel safer, knowing that there is help around the corner.”

With more classes returning to campus post-2020 lockdown, the app also features resources for COVID-related procedures and information.

Interim President Aracely Aguiar said that they’re still working on adding more features to the application.

"We’re trying to implement systems by which, for example, a faculty member will have some kind of QR code or some kind of clearance already on their phones through a phone app," Aguiar said.

Aguiar also said that on top of having the LAPC Safe App, they’re also planning to have weekly testing on campus via an outside company.

LACCD sent out emails to inform and request that students and staff complete symptom self-check questionnaires through the app before coming to campus.

Another feature on the SAFE App is tip reporting, establishing communication directly to LAPC security in regards to safety concerns on campus.

Doctor Lee Loveridge, a physics and astronomy professor, recalled that years ago, he had encountered a situation in which the LAPC SAFE App could have been resourceful if it were available.

"I was here on campus very early and saw a couple walking," Loveridge said. He explained how the couple had been adversarial at that moment and it had led to an altercation. He had reported the situation to 911 and the Sheriff's Department, yet not much happened. "That could have been a nice time when an app could have been useful to apply to."

Because the last year of education has been offered through online courses, the adaptation of on-campus presence is gradual and progressive. The LAPC SAFE App is a recent addition to campus security and is not wellknown.

Sophomore Owen Pogue said that he knows little about the app and would be interested if it were advertised more.

Pogue said. "I think that it’s good that there is more access to these safety resources around campus,” Pogue said. “The app is the best way you can do it."

Pogue said that he is concerned with the application and usage of the app because many students are unaware of it.

"A lot of people have barely even heard about the app," Pogue said. "I feel like if there was more awareness and people did actually know about it and they had a good experience with the app, then that would encourage more people to use it and take advantage of it.”

President Aguiar said that she is confident in the campus body in complying with the requirements of on-campus returns.

“Many students in the online environment simply need a little bit more information for us to help, but I think it’s going to work,” Aguiar said. “We’re very confident. All of the students have been wearing masks and all of the faculty. Everybody’s been very compliant because we’re all very concerned. We want to be safe.”

The app is available for Androids and Apple phones on the App Store.

“Step two is I went ahead and reached out to the University of California Office of the President to ask if they could do a data share with us.”

This data transfer would allow Pierce to know which students got into what UC schools, as well as which students attended which schools.

“They do a data share where they'll share back with us in January and say okay, all these students apply from Pierce College to all of these UCs and these majors,” Salter said. “But what they don't do is a second data share to tell us who got in.”

Salter took the initiative of sending an email to start the process to not just get the records of who has applied, but also who got in. According to Salter, knowing who got into what school gives the transfer center a roadmap to which transcripts need to be done first according to either the semester or quarter system.

Interim President Aracely Aguiar said extra time has been taken to bring in the new hires, as well as more investment in the current staff being able to accomplish their goals.

“We have provided overtime to expedite the process,” Aguiar said. “We are making sure we are asking other individuals. In other