Spring Break
OSU Alert encourages students and staff to update preferences
Alert members can customize accounts to receive emergency updates through text or email
Ryan Gunderson
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
Students and faculty alike are encouraged to log in and customize their individual records and preferences in case of an emergency near the OSU campus.
In the aftermath of the events that took place April 16, 2007 at Virginia Tech, OSU and other universities looked into the availability of emergency notification systems. OSU Alert was introduced a year ago and has so far proven to be an efficient and effective way to quickly inform OSU community members of any problems.
"We've only officially had to test the system only once, thankfully," said Jack Rogers, director of public safety at OSU. "If something threatens lives or the safety of OSU, we will notify people about it."
The only time OSU Alert has had to use their emergency notification capabilities was March 31, when police had a standoff with a subject on Harrison Boulevard. The notification drew attention to the scene, which was not the intention of the alert.
"I definitely wanted to go and check it out," said Chris Anderson, a senior majoring in business marketing. "If I had been in the area and able to go, I would have walked by." Plenty of students did go to the scene however, and in the future [they] are encouraged to stay away from areas that are deemed dangerous, Rogers said.
Todd Simmons, director of news and communication services, said last March that the alert definitely led to students arriving on the scene and putting themselves in harm's way. OSU officials hope to change this in the future and some students might know how.
"I think it was good that the message warned us," said Hillary White, a senior majoring in merchandising management. "They said the SWAT team was there, though, and made it sound really intense. That makes people curious."
OSU is at GREEN status today and has been at this status since the end of March 2009, but that doesn't mean students and faculty shouldn't be prepared in case something happens. OSU Alert will notify its users of extreme weather including fires, freezing rain, floods or severe winter weather situations. Other notification-worthy situations include bomb threats, chemical or hazardous material spills and threatening situations like the one that took place last March.
In the aftermath of the events that took place April 16, 2007 at Virginia Tech, OSU and other universities looked into the availability of emergency notification systems. OSU Alert was introduced a year ago and has so far proven to be an efficient and effective way to quickly inform OSU community members of any problems.
"We've only officially had to test the system only once, thankfully," said Jack Rogers, director of public safety at OSU. "If something threatens lives or the safety of OSU, we will notify people about it."
The only time OSU Alert has had to use their emergency notification capabilities was March 31, when police had a standoff with a subject on Harrison Boulevard. The notification drew attention to the scene, which was not the intention of the alert.
"I definitely wanted to go and check it out," said Chris Anderson, a senior majoring in business marketing. "If I had been in the area and able to go, I would have walked by." Plenty of students did go to the scene however, and in the future [they] are encouraged to stay away from areas that are deemed dangerous, Rogers said.
Todd Simmons, director of news and communication services, said last March that the alert definitely led to students arriving on the scene and putting themselves in harm's way. OSU officials hope to change this in the future and some students might know how.
"I think it was good that the message warned us," said Hillary White, a senior majoring in merchandising management. "They said the SWAT team was there, though, and made it sound really intense. That makes people curious."
OSU is at GREEN status today and has been at this status since the end of March 2009, but that doesn't mean students and faculty shouldn't be prepared in case something happens. OSU Alert will notify its users of extreme weather including fires, freezing rain, floods or severe winter weather situations. Other notification-worthy situations include bomb threats, chemical or hazardous material spills and threatening situations like the one that took place last March.
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