Auburn has just reached out to touch its fans and alumni in a way that most would not have considered possible years ago. Auburn life is intriguing and many people want to be kept “in the know” with what is happening on campus which is why Auburn has consented for the installation of live-feed cameras across campus.
This idea has been in the works for months, if not years, and has been closely monitored for potential success. The live-feed program was launched a couple of months ago and has had thousands of hits on the website, sometimes 3,000 hits a day.
With the implementation of live footage on campus, alumni are able to reminisce on Auburn’s good days and preserve their sense of home that came along with their four year stay. Along with alumni, parents and potential Auburn students are included as intended audience members as well. Most parents are able to get a better feel of campus and what everyday activity consists of and at the same time have a connection with their children. For potential students, this offers them a chance to orient themselves with the university and gain some knowledge on what kind of atmosphere they will be subjected to if enrolled.
When the cameras were put into place, a question came to mind: Will this contribute to extra security and safety on campus? Mike Clardy, Manager of News and Web Services here at Auburn, informed me that the use of these cameras were not intended for safety precautions on campus, but still could serve minimal purpose regarding safety issues. There is no way to zoom in or adjust the camera angle from your computer to suit your need which is why this poses as minimal security.
This experiment has sparked many creative ideas in faculty and staff. Clardy shared a story with me regarding the use of these cameras for personal gain. One student here at Auburn had a parent touring Afghanistan and was going to miss her graduation. She emailed her dad and told him to log on to the website at a certain time and check the Samford Hall camera location. With that being said, she made a sign and told her dad that she missed him and told him that she loved him. The same idea has spread throughout the student body and sometimes you will see people standing outside in front of a camera giving shout outs to friends and family.
Many people have yet to realize that this resource on campus exists, but the growing popularity of it has the capability for it to explode. The live-feed access on campus has been an entity for out-of-towners to tune into and watch the crowds roll in for the games on Saturdays. With the potential brewing, this newly acquired element of Auburn will grow and flourish into a daily ritual for students and faculty to visit and enjoy the sights of Auburn.