UIC's emergency response system
Kelli Schlueter
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: News
Media Credit: Heather KaufmanChicago Police, UIC Police and a SWAT Team conducted searches of SSB and neighboring EPASW after receiving a 911 call Friday afternoon that shots were fired in the vicinity.
The UIC website's homepage issued an alert shortly after SSB and EPASW were evacuted after a potential gun threat Friday stating the following, "UIC and Chicago Police are investigating a report of a gunshot at the Student Services Building at Harrison and Racine. Initial search turns up no evidence of gunfire. The building is being evacuated. Please stay clear of the area. Further updates as soon as they are available."
However, some students and staff are questioning the decision of the university not to send out an emergency text message (SMS) and e-mail alert Friday afternoon indicating there was possible danger on campus.
"UIC did not alert students at all. Many signed up for the Text Message Alert System and nothing was sent out. Rumors were spreading and the only notice we had was the Website alert, which is obviously not effective for those students who were in class," an anonomyous student said.
The SMS emergency alert system was put into place as a response to tragic school shootings such as those experienced by Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. The purpose of the system is to alert those who are signed up for the service of immediate danger unfolding on campus.
"The SMS system was designed to alert the community to an imminent threat," indicated Rosati.
There was no initial evidence found of gunfire - including the review of campus-wide security tapes by the UIC Police shortly after the incident occurred, according to Rosati.
"The UIC Police have video surveillance cameras at 60 locations across campus," said Rosati, "and there was no evidence whatsover that gunfire occurred."
Rosati went on to say that the university is, "constantly looking to refine the emergency alert system and take a proactive approach to danger or threats."
Thursday evening a crime alert massmail was sent out warning students and staff of a robbery which occurred in UIC Parking Lot 5C, 1131 S. Morgan St. The threat was seen as imminent, as the suspect threatened the UIC student with a knife and demanded his wallet.
Rosati also indicated that UIC will soon be installing a series of loudspeakers around campus which will alert students and faculty to imminently dangerous situtations that are developing.
The speakers coupled with the SMS emergency alerts and e-mail notifications will provide more reassurance to those on campus when an emergency situation unfolds.
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However, some students and staff are questioning the decision of the university not to send out an emergency text message (SMS) and e-mail alert Friday afternoon indicating there was possible danger on campus.
"UIC did not alert students at all. Many signed up for the Text Message Alert System and nothing was sent out. Rumors were spreading and the only notice we had was the Website alert, which is obviously not effective for those students who were in class," an anonomyous student said.
The SMS emergency alert system was put into place as a response to tragic school shootings such as those experienced by Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. The purpose of the system is to alert those who are signed up for the service of immediate danger unfolding on campus.
"The SMS system was designed to alert the community to an imminent threat," indicated Rosati.
There was no initial evidence found of gunfire - including the review of campus-wide security tapes by the UIC Police shortly after the incident occurred, according to Rosati.
"The UIC Police have video surveillance cameras at 60 locations across campus," said Rosati, "and there was no evidence whatsover that gunfire occurred."
Rosati went on to say that the university is, "constantly looking to refine the emergency alert system and take a proactive approach to danger or threats."
Thursday evening a crime alert massmail was sent out warning students and staff of a robbery which occurred in UIC Parking Lot 5C, 1131 S. Morgan St. The threat was seen as imminent, as the suspect threatened the UIC student with a knife and demanded his wallet.
Rosati also indicated that UIC will soon be installing a series of loudspeakers around campus which will alert students and faculty to imminently dangerous situtations that are developing.
The speakers coupled with the SMS emergency alerts and e-mail notifications will provide more reassurance to those on campus when an emergency situation unfolds.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
uic!
posted 3/09/09 @ 9:01 AM CST
"The speakers coupled with the SMS emergency alerts and e-mail notifications will provide more reassurance to those on campus when an emergency situation unfolds. (Continued…)
LIM
posted 3/09/09 @ 9:46 AM CST
I am in 110% agreement with the anonomyous student mentioned in the news that "UIC did not alert students at all..." Then what's the point of signing up the Text Message Alert System?!
When the report was made at 2ish, how can the campus be 100% sure that it is NOT "an imminent threat"???? I thought the message posted on UIC website was to the point, so why can't they do the same with the text messaging? BECAUSE when such thing happened, i WOULD LIKE TO stay out of the campus DURING the time when the UIC and Chicago Police ARE INVESTIGATING!!!
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