Talking Stick - September/October 2008 - 60

40 CONTINUED Safe Harbor The disadvantage of this system is that not all students access their e-mail frequently, and it could be precious minutes or even hours before they received the important and potentially lifesaving notice. One challenge on many campuses is getting students to sign up for emergency response systems. At Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, a text messaging system is in place for emergencies, but students need to sign up for the option on their student online account. The process is simple and takes only minutes, but when it was first offered only about 10-15 percent of students signed up, according to Steve Waller, director of residential life. Once a double homicide took place on campus, however, the number jumped to about 80 percent, where it currently remains. Similar challenges in getting students to participate have also been experienced at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. About 16,000 people have signed up for the text messaging alert notification, out of an average campus population of a little under 50,000, according to Major Jay Gruber, assistant chief of police and assistant director of public safety. To help increase this number, Gruber created a Facebook page to market the idea. The page includes information on how to sign up for the alert notification system, provides videos for students to watch on emergency preparedness, and includes posts from Gruber on the latest campus safety tips. This initial lack of student participation in emergency notification systems is just one reason that many campuses implement more than one method to gain access to students during an emergency. In addition to e-mail and text messaging, some schools are using video boards in the lobbies of halls and dining facilities that can display in seconds emergency information and instructions with an audio alarm. Custom applications on campus computers can also post emergency messages to staff in seconds. Both of these tools are being used at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and others are being considered. “We are looking at using our VoIP phones to send out messages and audible alarms as well,” says Aaron Lucier, associate director of operations. Even a relatively simple response tool like an all-campus siren can be effective. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is currently procuring three outdoor CONTINUES 62 Knowledgeable people. Fast response. Accurate and timely delivery. Uncompromising product quality, manufactured to your specs. That’s why customers love working with Postcraft. And why that’s been true for more than 75 years. Incredible Customer Service. 1-800-528-4844 Institutional strength mattress covers, pillow covers and shower curtains. It makes Postcraft different. And better. www.postcraft.com email: sales@postcraft.com

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Talking Stick - September/October 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - September/October 2008