Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Last week’s hunt for an alleged campus gunman had University of Kansas students checking their text messages. In May, Provost Richard Lariviere requested that students, along with University faculty and staff, submit telephone numbers and service providers for an emergency text messaging system.
On Friday, students received e-mails about the threat, but not text messages.
“It would have been nice to know what was going on before I got here and walked around campus,” Megan Sanders, Lenexa junior, said.
Sanders signed up for the text messaging service in May and was surprised to find police and news crews on campus Friday. She checked her e-mail at Anschutz Library and received a message detailing the morning’s events. Sanders then checked her text messages, which were empty. Lynn Bretz, director of communications for the University, addressed the lack of text messages.
“We are in the process of developing the system,” Bretz said. “We have to have everyone’s cell phone number and carriers for it to work, and that information is still being collected.”
Marlesa Roney, vice provost of student success, said text messages will be sent in emergency cases. E-mails and the telephone voice mail system will also be used.
“The University considers an event an emergency if there is a risk to any member of the University community,” Roney said.
Lariviere’s e-mail was sent on the last day of spring classes. Despite the late request for emergency contact information, more than 5,000 students have submitted the information. Bretz said it was a good start but the University still needs student cooperation.
Robert Turvey, director of student information systems, said the University will promote the need for students to update and add emergency contact information more prominently on Enroll & Pay.
“The University wants that kind of data for reasons like today,” Turvey said on Friday. “Today is a good example of the need for communicating rapidly with people in our community.”
According to Mike Reid, director of marketing for Kansas Memorial Unions, text messaging is the quickest way to contact students because of the number of cell phones on campus today. Reid estimates that 90 percent of the student population carry cell phones, making it a faster tool than computer e-mail for releasing emergency information.
Friday’s emergency e-mail had a 40-minute delay because of a coincidental maintenance test being performed on the University’s computer system at the same time the events were unfolding, Bretz said.
The emergency text messaging system is scheduled to begin in the fall. Eventually, students may be able to choose to receive text messages about campus events, news, sports and educational departments. Building closings and changes in bus schedules may also be sent.
— Edited by Joe Caponio
University implements communication system
The University of Kansas is working to implement Message Blox, a system ...
Text messages will alert students
Beginning today, students can sign up to receive text messages from the ...
Editorial: KU message alert system effective
The system faced, and passed, two big tests last week.
Text message scam targets students
A mass text message sent on Feb. 1 was quickly determined to ...
Users abuse Facebook
Alcohol policy adds amnesty, parent notification
The University’s revised alcohol policy also includes an online assessment for incoming ...
University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause
Officials will notify parents of underage students who violate alcohol or drug ...
Administrators focus on campus safety instead of ...
The Northern Illinois University shooting hasn't affected KU's policy.
A question of identity
The Comanche Nation informed KU that a professor who claims he's Comanche ...
GTAs demand a vote for faculty hires
Eight GTA organizations sent a letter to the provost regarding their loss ...
New cell site improves efficiency
The on campus cell site will be especially helpful for sporting events.
Stewart: Why we should receive texts for ...
On-campus e-mail gets facelift over break
KUIT is nearing completion on a server-move and client updates.
KU works on improving cell phone signals
The potential plan with phone carriers could help eliminate dead zones and ...
Shooting tests university’s emergency response plan
Alerts help to keep students safe during emergencies on campus.
E-mail frauds target University students
Many students received e-mails from somebody posing as a representative from the ...
University e-mail accounts attacked by fake KU ...
The IT Security Office is formulating how to stop the scam e-mails, ...
University battles SPAM
KU agrees to raise GTA salaries
KU depends on outside arbiter’s opinion before making changes. Arbiter advises limited ...
Letter: Rally e-mail should not be called ...
University alerts network users to phishing
A fraudulent e-mail asked students and faculty to provide their usernames and ...
Editorial: University should make the switch from ...
Gmail offers students, faculty and staff the efficiency and storage space they ...
Buser: Crossed wires in phone etiquette
Digital Age presents new issues in etiquette.
University re-examines privacy policy
Following Jason Wren’s death, University considers allowing parents more access to student’s ...
Our electronic addiction
When did digital communication get so controversial and why are we so ...
Texting in class a growing problem
A new study found that 91 percent of college students texted in ...
Workshop teaches warnings signs of cyber scams
Phishing scams have Internet users on edge.
Mangiaracina: The dumbing down of America: Part ...
University e-mail working
Students and faculty can now access KU e-mail.
Expanded inboxes to allow more e-mails
Last Wednesday, Information Services announced that students’ e-mail mailboxes had been increased ...
Snow and buses lead to cancellation
Difficulty with buses getting up hills and a snow storm Thursday caused ...
University warns students about phone scam
Someone posing as a KU employee has reportedly been calling students and ...
University sends out swine flu warning
KU officials hope that new swine flu education will keep students healthy ...
University to test emergency text message system
Students and faculty will receive a test message noon Wednesday.
A school staple stronger on the Internet
KU Info has had its ups and downs, but it has found ...
Students can receive text alerts about late ...
KU on Wheels has developed and implemented GPS to track bus performance ...
On-campus emergency alert system will be tested ...
An alert tone and test message will be heard both inside and ...
Letter to the Editor: Improve University security
The shooting at Virginia Tech has many University of Kansas students concerned ...
Editorial: Gmail’s features necessary for students’ needs
A new system would have to start by bringing back students who ...
KU Safety Office investigates fake classified ad
An ad that has appeared in The University Daily Kansan may leave ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID