ASU has received five reports on its new anonymous report hotline since launching last month.
University officials said the number of calls is about what they expected because the program is so new.
The hotline allows people to anonymously report a suspicious incident or behavior, said Deborah Sullivan, director of Student Life at the Tempe campus.
Sullivan said a committee, led by ASU law professor Myles Lynk, recommended the hotline after a campus safety investigation following an off-campus shooting in March 2005.
Former ASU football player Loren Wade was arrested for allegedly shooting Brandon Falkner outside a Scottsdale nightclub.
"We were asked how we could improve safety for students, faculty and staff," Lynk said. "The hotline was only one of about 28 recommendations."
Lynk said the committee found students sometimes were reluctant to report misconduct by their fellow students, including violent acts and threats and possession of weapons.
ASU began accepting calls for 1-877-SUN-DEVL on Aug. 14.
"The hotline is a University-wide number that allows students, faculty and the general public to use in order to address compliance or safety concerns on campus."
The hotline allows the caller to be anonymous if they want, Sullivan said.
"It's kind of like silent witness," said undeclared freshman John Shelby, adding he thought the system was a good idea.
A poster hanging in the Memorial Union states the hotline should be used to report a concern about personal safety or the safety of others and violations of University laws, regulations or policies. It should not be confused with 911, ASU police said.
"It's important for people to know the hotline is not for emergencies," said ASU Department of Public Safety Cmdr. Jim Hardina.
"It could create confusion," said Matt Williams, a computer design sophomore. "Some people may call the number in an emergency."
Maggie Niescier, a global studies freshman, doesn't think students would get the hotline number confused with 911.
"It's a common sense thing," Niescier said.
Sullivan said the hotline number plays a message at the beginning of each call to remind people to call 911 if there is an emergency.
If the caller does not have an immediate emergency, the call is taken, documented in a report and reviewed by ASU Internal Audit and Management Services.
Internal audit manages the program, said Penny Whitmore, principal internal auditor for ASU.
She said internal audit reviews the report and determines which University department receives the case.
The report is then reviewed by a specific department or is sent to ASU police if necessary.
The program was put in place to deal with noncompliance with University policy issues, not just criminal issues, Whitmore said.
Hardina said the hotline has already generated some investigations by ASU police.
Sullivan said brochures and posters have been made available on all four campuses, but because the program is new, there is still more marketing to do.
"I think it is a great idea if people will take advantage of it," Niescier said.
Reach the reporter at: jeffrey.mitchell@asu.edu.
