EDITORIAL – Pitt’s alert system passes first test

Most likely, when Pitt administrators chose to implement an emergency notification system… Most likely, when Pitt administrators chose to implement an emergency notification system this semester, they hoped they would never be required to use it. But, as is the case at almost all universities, emergencies are a reality, and there needs to be a system in place to notify students in a calm and effective manner if threats do occur.

And Pitt’s notification system was able to do just that Friday when it issued warnings to approximately 7,700 students after bomb threats were reported at Clapp and Langley Halls. The alerts were sent to students via text message, e-mail and phone call – depending on student preference.

While Friday’s scare was unfortunate, it did tune many students into the importance of staying informed. Following the threats, approximately 1,500 students have signed up for the service – and hopefully more students will continue to do so.

Last year’s tragic massacre at Virginia Tech opened the entire country’s eyes to the reality that no campus, even a large, secluded college like Virginia Tech, is immune to violence. It also taught us that, in the case of an immediate threat, e-mail notification is sometimes not effective enough at alerting students, particularly when those who are on-campus don’t have access to, or regularly check their e-mail.

We also support Pitt’s decision to keep the notification system open to several channels of communication, particularly because not all students have text messages plans – or cell phones, for that matter. In the case of an emergency it is imperative to get the word out as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The University has promised that it takes the decision to issue an alert very seriously, and that messages like the one sent out Friday are only sent after a joint decision by campus police and a university emergency executive.

Again, this is a sound decision on the University’s part, and we hope that they continue to weigh every decision to issue a campus alert carefully. Often, we can become desensitized to, and unfortunately ignore threat warnings when they are overused.

Just look at our Homeland Security department’s warning system. The color-coded system is so convoluted and frequently changed that travelers often pay little attention to it.

The Pitt News fully supports Pitt’s decision to implement the emergency notification system, and encourages all students, faculty and staff who have yet to sign up for the alerts to do so. Unfortunately, emergencies and threats do happen, but we hope that it won’t take another threat to motivate the remainder of the Pitt community to sign up for the alerts.