Students: Be on the alert.
Ball State University's emergency alert system, that is.
Disasters, dangerous situations and accidents do happen, regardless of the precautions people take. But now everyone with a text-enabled cell phone can know about campus emergencies immediately if they sign up for the alerts.
The university has created a great tool that students should take advantage of so everyone knows when there is a problem on campus.
If something horrific, like the Virginia Tech shootings, or more benign, like a school-wide cancellation, happens, students will know with one glance at their cell phones. This technology would have been perfect during the ice storm and power outages in January 2005 or even the blizzard last February when classes were canceled. It's useful unless, of course, someone chooses not to participate and sign up for the alerts. Ball State will only send them to students who opt into the system.
This is an important and smart step in communication from Ball State to the university community. It's mobile, it's immediate and most people always have their cell phones with them. When was the last time you didn't have your phone nearby?
Of course, a text won't give all the details of an emergency situation, but it will alert people that there is a problem. They should check their e-mail inboxes or the university Web site for more information.
Right now, the alert system is only set up to send texts during emergency situations to people who opt into the system. In the coming months, Ball State plans to add athletic, news, art and other types of alerts that users can sign up to receive. This way, users can choose to add other messages or keep their texts down by only receiving emergency alerts. Or people who don't want alerts of any kind or don't have text messaging don't have to sign up for the system.
Ball State will use the system judiciously, according to the Web site, so phones shouldn't be buzzing about every false fire alarm on campus but people will know if a building burns down.
It may cost 10 or 15 cents per alert for people who do not have text message plans, but that pocket change will be worth it if Ball State students or employees are ever in danger.
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