For Your Consideration

I recently read a story in the Star Ledger’s February 29, 2008 edition, “Some Students Spurn Campus Alerts”. It alerted students of the necessity to sign up for a text messaging system. Only about 28 percent of the student on Blackboard Connect use its ConnectEd emergency alerts, one of the alert systems currently available. Alert systems can only as effective as their ability to make contact with a person. It reported that at Virginia Teach where a gunman killed 32 people and himself last April, only about 60% of the students have signed up for this service. That means 40% are not being alerted.

Student’s reluctance to sign up has been linked to feelings of invincibility, a reluctance to disseminate personal information, and a reluctance to pay the extra fees ($1 - $4). According to the article, safety experts feel this should not be the only way an alert notification is given. There should be sirens, loudspeakers, security cameras, website announcements and more. According to experts, in order to have a saturation of information, you don’t have to have everyone enrolled, if you reach a quarter of your population on campus; they can start to spread the word. Currently, Boston University mandates participation and other schools, Florida State and Colorado State ask student to either sign up or decline in writing before they register. In view of our recent lockdown, it is something we all need to consider. I feel I don’t want to have to wait for someone else to warn me. I’d rather be in the position where I help someone else. I question – In what situation could I be in, if I did not get the alert? Ask yourself the same question.