Spring Break
Security to send alerts using text messages
Student can now receive texts in event of campus emergencies
Issue date: 9/13/07
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Students at Hopkins can now receive text message alerts that will warm then of major emergency on campus, thanks to a system implemented on Sept. 6. Hopkins is one of many Universities across the country instating immediate alert systems in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings in order to be better able to alert students of danger.
"Since the shootings at Virginia Tech last April, colleges across the country have been looking at how they would get the word out quickly in the event of a similarly critical emergency," said Edmund Skrodzki, executive director of Safety and Security at the Homewood campus, in a press release.
"Johns Hopkins, like many others, has concluded that text messaging is an important addition to the other systems we already use to notify people during emergencies," he added.
"Like most colleges and universities, we looked at the April shootings at Virginia Tech for lessons that could be applied on our campuses," said Dennis O'Shea, the executive eirector of Communications and Public Affairs.
"The single most important lesson, we concluded, was that it is important in a crisis of that nature to have the means to contact students, faculty and staff quickly."
In addition Skrodzki praised the rapid and direct affect the text message system could have.
"If we ever have to use the system, we will be able to get out an alert, some very brief instructions on what to do and advice on where to get more information as the crisis develops," he said.
"Of paramount importance is the fact that any message should be heeded without question or delay," said Steven Ossmuss, assistant director of Investigative Services for Hopkins security.
"The system will only be used in an event of an emergency involving an imminent potential threat to the safety of the students, faculty and staff."
Registration for the system can be done on the newly revamped email interface system. "Students, faculty and staff log onto their jhed profiles to register their cell phones in the system. They will automatically be assigned to the alerts list for the campus with which they are affiliated," O'Shea said.
"Since the shootings at Virginia Tech last April, colleges across the country have been looking at how they would get the word out quickly in the event of a similarly critical emergency," said Edmund Skrodzki, executive director of Safety and Security at the Homewood campus, in a press release.
"Johns Hopkins, like many others, has concluded that text messaging is an important addition to the other systems we already use to notify people during emergencies," he added.
"Like most colleges and universities, we looked at the April shootings at Virginia Tech for lessons that could be applied on our campuses," said Dennis O'Shea, the executive eirector of Communications and Public Affairs.
"The single most important lesson, we concluded, was that it is important in a crisis of that nature to have the means to contact students, faculty and staff quickly."
In addition Skrodzki praised the rapid and direct affect the text message system could have.
"If we ever have to use the system, we will be able to get out an alert, some very brief instructions on what to do and advice on where to get more information as the crisis develops," he said.
"Of paramount importance is the fact that any message should be heeded without question or delay," said Steven Ossmuss, assistant director of Investigative Services for Hopkins security.
"The system will only be used in an event of an emergency involving an imminent potential threat to the safety of the students, faculty and staff."
Registration for the system can be done on the newly revamped email interface system. "Students, faculty and staff log onto their jhed profiles to register their cell phones in the system. They will automatically be assigned to the alerts list for the campus with which they are affiliated," O'Shea said.
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