FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The University of Arkansas Police Department is encouraging students to use a new location services app to improve campus safety.
Students, faculty, and staff can use the What3Words app to instantly share their location with friends and emergency services.
Evan Walker, a freshman biomedical engineering major, said he wishes Greenwood had such a resource.
“In my local school district, someone was just picking me up. Unfortunately, I never heard from him again,” Walker said.
He says he feels much safer at A University.
“My friends are able to walk around at night and enjoy campus life,” Walker said.
In 2022, U of A reported 18 robberies, 23 car thefts, and 15 rapes, 13 of which occurred on campus grounds.
This month, UAPD encouraged students to use tools like Safe Zone and What3Words to prevent such crimes.
Safezone is available only to U of A students, faculty, and staff, while What3Words is available to anyone around the world.
What3Words divides the world into 3-meter squares, allowing users to provide more accurate locations than a regular street address.
You can then share that exact location with ridesharing apps and first responders.
“Hopefully they show up in a timely manner,” said U of A alumnus Ryan Martin.
He graduated from college four years ago and says What3Words would have been helpful since all they had was a blue light emergency phone, 911.
“In some cases, they’re in very remote locations. If there was an emergency, we wouldn’t be able to get to the box on time,” Martin said.
To use What3Words, download the app or use the online map at What3Words.com.