By: Sanah Faroke / Contributing Writer
“The safety of our students and the entire university community is my number one concern. We must continually ensure that the best planning, processes and technology are in place to keep our community safe,” said University President Mark B. Rosenberg in a letter on June 1, 2010.
In 2008, the University implemented Panther Alerts, a text messaging system that warns everyone in the University community if there is danger on campus. Since 2008, Panther Alerts has advanced exceptionally, but an alert system that revolves solely around technology always has glitches. Panther Alerts should expand its range from only communicating through technology and resume to alternative means when technology fails.
Panther Alerts notifies students, faculty and staff that are all hooked up to the network if there is a dire situation on campus, making the community aware of either a man-made danger, or a natural disaster. This includes text messages, “informacast” where messages will be on the phones in classrooms and offices, speakers, electronic signs outside of the Modesto Maidique and Biscayne Bay campuses, email, the University’s web page, the University’s Facebook page, Twitter and the University’s help line.
As intense and thorough as this plan is, I do not think that the system has fully been thought-out. Yes, it is a process, but when horrific situations arise, there is no time to recall last minute improvements. It is too late.
As of last year, Panther Alerts waited 1 hour and 20 minutes to notify the University community about the stabbing of Kendall Berry, or even to say that the offender was still “at large” according to the Miami Herald. 4,600 students, faculty and staff who signed up did not receive a text about the updated situation. Despite President Rosenberg’s changes since, people have still been getting lagged texts from the Panther Alerts.
Even though there is an abundance of techniques to get the word out, they are all done electronically. I question this technique and its reliability considering that if there is a tropical storm and the electrical power would cease to work, there is no mention of an electrical back up to communicate all the vital information and safe grounds.
Aside from that, not every single person on campus is registered to receive Panther Alerts via text message. This should actually be mandatory for everyone’s safety, especially if the student lives on campus. As soon as a student, faculty or staff member is enrolled in the University system, their number should automatically be added to the Panther Alerts system.
Overall, the Panther Alerts system has improved significantly, yet there are still aspects of the system that still needs to be addressed and not ignored.
What bothers me even more is how the alert system is also used for advertisements. The university only has my cell number for emergency alerts but now im getting texts about basketball games and adverts for food on campus.