As students settle into their daily routines on campus, their cyber godmother is working to keep them safe.
Secret Chaperone, a web and smartphone application, is a confidential alert system that can be used to “minimize risk and dangers associated with encounters with people you do not know,” according to the application’s website.
The application’s founder, Robin Hatheway — a registered nurse and professor at Southeastern University in Hammond — launched the application three weeks ago and said it is most useful to alert friends and family in case of emergency.
“I created it because I used to go to five to 10 people’s houses a day, but no one knew exactly where I was,” Hatheway said. “If a college student is on their way back from a night class, the app could be especially useful.”
Upon logging onto the application’s website, users can manage their schedules and plan out their day. The application sends a text message approximately 15 minutes before an event to notify the user to check in.
If the application does not receive a notice of a “safe check in,” it will notify the user’s emergency contacts with a text message. The app also has a 911 panic feature.
Although the application launched just six weeks ago, Hatheway said she has already received positive feedback from several sororities on campus.
Some students also see the value in Secret Chaperone because of the potential dangers of campus at night.
Creative writing junior Samantha Roberge said the application may help, but it will not completely resolve all safety concerns.
“LSU Police can’t be everywhere to watch out for suspicious people,” Roberge said. “From just looking at the application, it looks like it could help out. At the same time, someone’s first instinct isn’t going to be to press the help button if someone pulls a knife. But if a friend knows where you are going to be, then in an emergency it would be priceless.”
Hatheway referred to the death of University of Lafayette student Mickey Shunick to explain how helpful the application could be in a crisis.
“We saw pictures of her on her bike,” she said. ”The next thing we knew, she disappeared. With our next feature, we are going to add GPS so your contacts can see the exact location where you are, even if you are moving.”
