2008 Woodie Awards
More than just a text message
Receive warnings concerning campus through e-lert text messages
Lindsay Dunham
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: News
The tragic shootings that took place on college campuses such as Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University have sparked increased safety concerns at colleges and universities around the country.
Since the tragedies, SIUE has worked hard to ensure that students on campus are protected.
Last March, SIUE implemented a text messaging system called e-lerts. The system sends a text message to students who sign up, alerting them to problems such as class cancellations due to inclement weather, power outages or hostile occurrences on campus.
"The e-lert was established to enhance our emergency communications at SIUE," David McDonald, director of emergency management and safety, said. "We continue to send e-mails, use university telephone messaging, SIUE's homepage, warning sirens and local media. The e-Lert may work when phone lines are jammed. Because e-Lerts are text messages, they tend to be quicker than e-mail."
According to the SIUE emergency management Web site, text messages worked better than any other type of communication during Hurricane Katrina.
"I feel that e-Lerts are a great way to make sure you receive notice of an emergency on campus in a timely manner," McDonald said.
McDonald said many students already have a text messaging plan as part of their cell phone service, so registration does not cost them any additional money.
"If they don't have a text messaging plan, e-Lerts may result in a charge of 15 to 20 cents on their phone bill in the event of an emergency," McDonald said.
SIUE student Prashanthi Gundagoni said she is signed up for e-Lerts and is very pleased with it.
"It keeps you exactly informed of what's happening on campus right now," Gundagoni said. "That way, if there is a (hostile person) on campus, we can know to stay in our rooms and lock our doors. It helps keep us safe."
Sophomore Natasha House said she is not signed up for e-lerts but is not worried.
"I feel very safe on campus, regardless," House said.
Occasionally SIUE will send out test messages to make sure the system is working, but so far, the messaging system has been successful.
"The comments I have received on the e-lert system have been very positive," McDonald said. "I think everyone wants to have the most current information in the event of an emergency, and the e-lert system provides another way to keep informed."
To sign up for e-lerts, students should go to www.siue.edu/e-lert/ and click on the "sign up now" link. Once there, students need to enter their e-ID and password, as well as their cell phone number.
Since the tragedies, SIUE has worked hard to ensure that students on campus are protected.
Last March, SIUE implemented a text messaging system called e-lerts. The system sends a text message to students who sign up, alerting them to problems such as class cancellations due to inclement weather, power outages or hostile occurrences on campus.
"The e-lert was established to enhance our emergency communications at SIUE," David McDonald, director of emergency management and safety, said. "We continue to send e-mails, use university telephone messaging, SIUE's homepage, warning sirens and local media. The e-Lert may work when phone lines are jammed. Because e-Lerts are text messages, they tend to be quicker than e-mail."
According to the SIUE emergency management Web site, text messages worked better than any other type of communication during Hurricane Katrina.
"I feel that e-Lerts are a great way to make sure you receive notice of an emergency on campus in a timely manner," McDonald said.
McDonald said many students already have a text messaging plan as part of their cell phone service, so registration does not cost them any additional money.
"If they don't have a text messaging plan, e-Lerts may result in a charge of 15 to 20 cents on their phone bill in the event of an emergency," McDonald said.
SIUE student Prashanthi Gundagoni said she is signed up for e-Lerts and is very pleased with it.
"It keeps you exactly informed of what's happening on campus right now," Gundagoni said. "That way, if there is a (hostile person) on campus, we can know to stay in our rooms and lock our doors. It helps keep us safe."
Sophomore Natasha House said she is not signed up for e-lerts but is not worried.
"I feel very safe on campus, regardless," House said.
Occasionally SIUE will send out test messages to make sure the system is working, but so far, the messaging system has been successful.
"The comments I have received on the e-lert system have been very positive," McDonald said. "I think everyone wants to have the most current information in the event of an emergency, and the e-lert system provides another way to keep informed."
To sign up for e-lerts, students should go to www.siue.edu/e-lert/ and click on the "sign up now" link. Once there, students need to enter their e-ID and password, as well as their cell phone number.
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