The Journal

Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: News

photo illustration by Jenny Meinhardt

In April 2007, the Committee on Student Communication meetings led to an alert that uses text messages, e-mail, and RSS feeds. Richard Meyers formed the committee with staff representatives from different Webster University departments to implement a system for communication in emergency situations in Virginia Tech.

On April 16, 2007, armed student Seung-Hui Cho began what would become the deadliest mass shooting in the modern history of the United States at Virginia polytechnic Institute and State University. Since the Virginia Tech incident, many universities have taken precautions to increase security and ensure campus notification.

The system runs through the company e-2campus Web site and is a free service to Webster students and staff. Students can also sign-up for certain alerts and different campuses. Some other schools that use the e-2campus emergency alert system are Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Emory and Henry College in Emory, Va., and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, La.

Besides life-threatening campus emergencies, the service will also be used for weather alerts and school cancellations.

The committee includes Director News and Public Information Polly Burtch, Dean of Students Ted Hoef, Hubert Gibson, Vice President of information Technology and Chairperson of the committee Larry Haffner, Director of Public Safety Dan Pesold, and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Jim Staley.

Hoef said this system would be reliable during natural disasters.

"For instance, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina the phone lines were jammed, but the community was able to contact each other through text messages," Hoef said.

Spencer Campbell, a sophomore advertising major, said he is skeptical about the new system but does like its use for weather alerts. He plans to sign up for the service.

"I feel safe," Campbell said. "I personally don't think it is needed. [But] I think [the weather alert] is cool, because there were times last year where I've gotten up, gone to class, and found out things were canceled."

Pesold said although Webster is a safe campus, one has to look at the bigger picture.

"You have to look at the world and see that anyone could be hit with what happened at Virginia Tech," Pesold said. "Webster is relatively safe, but we're not immune."

Continued...

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