A safety phone is kind of like the red phone Batman had that connected him directly to Commissioner Gordon. The phones connect the user directly to the Cerritos College Police Department.

The ASCC members have committed themselves to ensuring students are provided the phones by using up to $20,000 of their own money to purchase them. Senator Mark Duran said, “It’s unfortunate that the board isn’t paying.” However the ASCC thinks the issue of safety on campus is such a big deal that they are willing to pay for the phones out of their own budget.

ASCC presidential candidate Victor Shen thinks the phones may not be necessary.

“Cerritos is one of the safest community colleges in California,” Shen said.

“Students need to be able to distinguish between perception and reality,” he said, “The perception is that we’re not very safe, but the reality is that we are.”

Duran feels differently. “Having safety phones is imperative to Cerritos students,” he said.

The ASCC members will continue planning to set up the phones. Currently they are in the progress of brining in outside contractors to help them decide on the best placement of the phones.