UCF to increase security on campus

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The University of Central Florida is making security changes.

WFTV has learned that the campus will have 30 new emergency phones.

Currently there are nearly 200 on the campus. However, many universities and colleges are getting rid of emergency phones because most students carry cellphones.

UCF, one of the largest university systems in the country, is a city in itself. And that means typical city problems. Just two weeks ago a student was pistol-whipped in a campus parking lot.

"For me, I feel like the campus is safe even though there are pistol-whippings or other crimes that happen," said student Jamilia Tyson.

"There's going to be crime regardless, like throughout any college, you know?" said student Gabriella Armour.

The university is the midst of major security upgrades.

The main campus currently has 190 blue-light emergency call boxes. Thirty more will be put in over the next half year near the expanded academic village, parking garages and in other areas.

The university is also increasing police presence on campus.

"We are also including more patrols on campus. We have patrols in vehicles and on ATVs and bicycles," said UCF spokesman Chad Binette.

The university said they plan to upgrade lighting around the campus, including at an near Brighthouse Network Stadium, which was dark on Friday night.

"I feel safe. I'm pretty aware of my surroundings when I walk to and fro, wherever I'm going," said Armor.

More than 800 calls were placed from these emergency boxes at UCF last year, according to the school. But the majority were accidental calls or prank calls.

WFTV