The Traveler

Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Brandie Ash Matt Joyner checks his voicemail in Kimpel Hall while Bert Skula texts; many students agree that their cell phone is the fastest and easiest way to communicate.

Emergency alerts will soon be available via text messages for students through the new UA program, Raz Alert, said the University Webmaster. Anything from school closings to more serious occurrences, such as an active shooter on campus, will be relayed to students through e-mail and texts, said Chris Nixon.

We are hoping to have the alerts ready within the next few weeks, he said. The system needs to be tested and could tentatively be ready by Sept. 10, said Nixon.

Other emergencies on campuses across the country highlighted the need for an emergency system like this, said Lt. Gary Crain of the UAPD.

"I think it can help save lives," said Robin Stuttle, a UA senior. After all the school shootings [the text message alerts] could be effective, she said.

Students will be prompted to sign up for the alerts when they log in to ISIS once the system has been set up and tested, said Nixon. Everyone with a UARK e-mail account is already signed up for web alerts, but the text messages are optional, he said.

The authority to send out the messages is between UA relations and UAPD, said Nixon.

Several people at the UAPD, including myself, will be able to send out the emergency texts, said Crain.

The texting system will be very effective for people who participate in the program and keep their contact information up to date, he said. If a student changes numbers they need to make sure to change their contact information on ISIS as well in order to receive the emergency texts.

Students would take the text messages seriously since they're aware of situations that can happen, said Stuttle.

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