The development of a new blue-light emergency mobile application funded by Student Government will put the technology of the blue-light poles on campus directly into the hands of students. A single tap will alert authorities with GPS location, said Cristian Arango, director of Nightlife Navigators.
“It’s like having a blue light with you wherever you go,” said Jennifer Ryder, an 18-year-old pre-pharmacy freshman, “in case you don’t want to set people off, like by calling 911, because sometimes that can trigger something worse.”
Since January, students and administrators have been working together to bring the app to life. The idea came after releasing the SNAP UF app, which allows students to request and track a Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol van, said Arango, a 20-year-old history and political science junior.
However, SG and Nightlife Navigators are still working on funding and finding a company to build it.
Arango said he hopes the app will be released during the Summer.
“Would I like the app to come sooner than the middle of Fall? Yes. I would like to test it out this Summer with the incoming freshmen,” he said.
