Campus Security Features

University police provides several services outlined below aimed at maintaining campus security, but they cannot work unless you take an active role in protecting yourself. We have also included information about personal safety in off-campus situations that you should review as well.

Bama Escort Service Don't walk alone at night. Instead, use the Bama Escort Service --a program of the University Police--to get a free ride between locations on campus or between nearby residences and campus. Rides are available most nights from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., just by calling 348-9494. The service is operated by student drivers who have undergone criminal and driver history checks and drug screening before appointment to Bama Escort Service. Requests for rides are recorded and dispatched to available drivers in the order they are received. While all calls are dispatched as soon as possible, high demand sometimes results in a short wait for those requesting rides. The service area includes neighborhoods between the campus and Queen City Avenue to the west; 15th street to the south; Helen Keller Boulevard to the east; and River Road to the north. Bama Escort is intended as an academic service, however, and does not service establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold. Designated drivers, The Tuscaloosa Trolley, or local taxi services are viable alternatives if you need transportation to or from such establishments.

Security and Access to Campus Facilities

Help us maintain the security of our campus buildings. The UA campus is made up of a variety of facilities, primarily academic and administrative buildings and student residences. In the daytime, there is open access to academic and administrative buildings, with the exception of recreation facilities at which users must present membership cards. Academic and administrative facilities are locked after their business hours. Some student residence halls have entrance halls that are staffed by resident assistants during open hours; The entrance desks of the two highrise residence halls (Rose Towers and Tutwiler Hall) are staffed 24 hours a day.

Students and staff who have keys to buildings for after-hours work must lock the doors behind them after they enter and are encouraged to follow all personal safety precautions. For example, if you have to study or work alone at night in a campus building, be sure a friend knows where you are and when you'll return home (if you don't leave on schedule, remember to let your friend know). And keep the bad guys out: Never prop open a locked door to a building or residence hall. If you see a propped door, close it. When doors to residence halls are locked, don't permit anyone other than your guest to enter the lobby. If you see an unescorted man in a women's residence hall, tell the resident assistant or notify the University Police immediately.

Emergency Phones Learn the locations of the 70 bright blue outdoor emergency phones around campus. Each phone is clearly marked, and each is a direct line to the University Police communications operator. No dialing is necessary. In an emergency, all you need to do is take the phone off the hook or push the red button. The communications operator knows your location before actually answering your line. Note the emergency phone locations provided on this page. In addition to the blue outdoor emergency phones, there are free public telephones in the common areas of all campus buildings. These white "help phones" are clearly marked with emergency instructions and can also be used for on-campus calls.

Most passenger elevators on campus have emergency lines that operate the same way as the outdoor emergency phones. When you push the red button marked "Emergency," the University Police communications operator will answer.

Some Blue Emergency Phone Locations 

         Between Bruno Business Library and Graves Hall 
         Bryce Lawn Drive North 
         Bryce Lawn Drive South 
         Capstone Drive at Colonial Drive, Quad side 
         Capstone Drive at Sixth Avenue, Quad side 
         Devotie Drive at Bryant Hall 
         Ferguson Parking Deck, each floor 
         Fifth Avenue East at Capstone Village
         Fourth Avenue at Ninth Street
         Highlands on Hackberry Apartments 
         Lakeside parking lot
         Magnolia Drive/Bryant Drive intersection 
         Margaret Drive/Hackberry Lane intersection          
         Mineral Industries Building parking lot 
         Moody Music Building large parking lot 
         Moore Hall, on Sixth Avenue side 
         Paty Hall lot at Second Street 
         Quad
         Recreation fields by Student Recreation Center 
         Ridgecrest Apartments
         Recreation Center at Outdoor Pool
         Riverside parking lot and Courtyard
         ten Hoor Parking Decks, each floor 
         Tutwiler Hall rear parking lot 
         University Blvd. at Colonial Drive, Quad side 
         University Blvd. at Sixth Avenue, Quad side 
         Woods Hall, on promenade side 

Lighting

The University works to see that the indoor and outdoor lighting on campus contributes to safety. If you see an outdoor light that isn't working, check the pole or base for a letter and number. Call UA Facilities Operations and Maintenance at 348-6001 and give that letter and number to the work-order clerk or answering service. Each fall and spring, the Student Safety and Security Committee holds a "lighting tour" to make sure that current equipment is continuing to meet needs. You're welcome to join the tour and comment on lighting plans. Call the University Police at 348-5454 for details.

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