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SALISBURY, MD---¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ President Janet Dudley-Eshbach today announced a major investment in the safety of the SU campus, the City of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and surrounding communities.

In a letter sent to Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman, the President pledged $200,000 toward a new aerial ladder truck for the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department. The vehicle, valued at over $1.1 million, will significantly improve the Fire Department’s access to high-rise buildings, including many of SU’s residence halls.

“Through the years, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has worked in partnership with the City of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ to help ensure safer and more secure neighborhoods,” said Dudley-Eshbach. “We are grateful for the timely and dependable services provided by the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department, and are pleased that our investment will enhance its ability to meet the needs of our entire community.”

The region’s elected leaders hailed the new collaboration.  “As a longtime firefighter myself, I understand and appreciate the indispensable services that our region’s fire companies provide on a daily basis,” said Delegate Norman H. Conway, Maryland House of Delegates (District 38B) and chair of the House Appropriations Committee.  “¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥’s investment in this new ladder truck will enable the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department to respond even more effectively to life-threatening emergencies on campus and throughout the area.”

“The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department plays a vital role in safeguarding the quality of life at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and across the Lower Shore,” said Maryland Senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus (District 38). “Given the obvious importance of fire and rescue services to the campus community, I commend ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ for responding to the Fire Department's unmet equipment needs in a spirit of real collaboration.”

The University’s contribution to the purchase of the new fire truck will be made in five annual installments of $40,000. The first payment will be made when the new equipment has been placed into service.

SU has shown a strong commitment to work with ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ officials to ensure safer neighborhoods surrounding its campus and throughout the city. The University currently makes a voluntary annual payment of $70,000 to ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ for police and fire protection of the University Park student residential center.

This new investment will bring SU’s direct annual support for public safety services to $110,000.
“This is the latest example of the expanding partnership that exists between the City of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥,” said Tilghman. “We are excited to have this opportunity to work with SU to protect students, permanent residents and property throughout our City.”

“I am very happy that the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department will be working in close partnership with ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ to provide the best emergency services possible.  This investment by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ will enhance our ability to save lives, prevent serious injury and protect personal property when the time comes,” said Chief David B. See of the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Fire Department.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.