Collegiate Times

In the wake of the William Morva incident, the university is considering the option of implementing an emergency text message alert system.

?It?s a blue sky idea,? said Larry Hincker, university spokesman, said of the idea, which is still in preliminary stages of consideration. ?We?re just beginning to throw the idea around.?

Currently, the university employs e-mail, the internet and the dormitory phone system to alert students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency. The text message alert system was the result of the university?s brainstorming efforts for a way of reaching mobile people.

?Any way to get the news out is a good way. If you send an e-mail or an IM out, people don?t find it unless they?re at their computer. Almost everybody has a cell phone,? said Randy Marchany, director of the information technology security laboratory, part of the IT security office. ?It?s not the one thing that will do everything to get the message out, but it?s something.?

After investigating the idea further, Hincker said he expects to discover who will have to make the final decision about implementing the system. If the alert system is large and complicated, then it may fall into the hands of the Information Technology or Communication Network Services. However, if the system is simplistic, then Hincker himself may have to make the final decision.

?It?s not like we have a formal process for doing this,? Hincker said. ?We haven?t formed a task force; we haven?t made any proposals.? The new system may become the cause of debate, considering that standard text message costs will likely apply.

?I?m torn ? it would be a good idea because people would be warned faster, but it?s also overkill because information spreads like wildfire here anyway,? said junior accounting and information systems major Katie Jones.

Hincker had the idea of the text message alert system after hearing about a similar implementation at Penn State.

Because the idea is still in its early stages, it would be a while before the new system would take effect, Hincker said. In the meantime, the university has created a website, mobile.vt.edu, that is accessible using the Internet from a cell phone.