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TechnographStudents critique emergency text system
Officials look to incorporate other media
By Paul Biasco
Posted: 5/1/08 Section: News
In the May 1 edition of The Daily Illini, the article titled "Students critique emergency text messaging system," Lindsay Kessler was quoted as having said, "We're very honest about it."
The quotation should have read, "They were very honest about it."
The Daily Illini regrets this error.
The following is the story as it appeared in print that day.
Seven University students recently outlined what they believe to be shortcomings of the emergency test messaging system after conducting a study to evaluate its efficiency, but University spokesperson Robin Kaler said the system would be effective in the case of an emergency.
The students also evaluated possible alternatives to the current system in a study titled "University of Illinois Campus Emergency Wireless Project."
As of Feb. 22, 45 percent of University students were registered for the emergency text system, according to the study.
The students contacted Campus Information Technology and Educational Services to inquire about tests on the system in the fall of 2007.
"We're very honest about it," said Lindsay Kessler, a senior in LAS and one of the members of the study.
They found that one of the limitations with the text message system, which was donated to the University by an alumnus at Mutare Software, is that it relies on the recipient's cell phone network's availability.
During one test they found that students with Blackberry devices would not have received the emergency text message because its service was temporarily down. In another test, students with Verizon cell phones would not have received the text.
If an incident on campus would occur, the text message would read, "There has been an incident at _____. If you are outside, seek shelter. If you are inside, stay inside," according to the students' report.
The University has also worked with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to put a system in place to alert students of an emergency on the scrolling signs on campus buses, Kaler said.
The quotation should have read, "They were very honest about it."
The Daily Illini regrets this error.
The following is the story as it appeared in print that day.
Seven University students recently outlined what they believe to be shortcomings of the emergency test messaging system after conducting a study to evaluate its efficiency, but University spokesperson Robin Kaler said the system would be effective in the case of an emergency.
The students also evaluated possible alternatives to the current system in a study titled "University of Illinois Campus Emergency Wireless Project."
As of Feb. 22, 45 percent of University students were registered for the emergency text system, according to the study.
The students contacted Campus Information Technology and Educational Services to inquire about tests on the system in the fall of 2007.
"We're very honest about it," said Lindsay Kessler, a senior in LAS and one of the members of the study.
They found that one of the limitations with the text message system, which was donated to the University by an alumnus at Mutare Software, is that it relies on the recipient's cell phone network's availability.
During one test they found that students with Blackberry devices would not have received the emergency text message because its service was temporarily down. In another test, students with Verizon cell phones would not have received the text.
If an incident on campus would occur, the text message would read, "There has been an incident at _____. If you are outside, seek shelter. If you are inside, stay inside," according to the students' report.
The University has also worked with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to put a system in place to alert students of an emergency on the scrolling signs on campus buses, Kaler said.
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