Announcements
Editorial: Highlander
April 15, 2008
Emergency notification means UCR cares
In the newest string of attempts to make UCR a safer campus, Acting Chancellor Robert Grey has implemented a mandatory opt-in, opt-out option for the school's newest emergency notification system. The option, which blocks student access to GROWL until students actually fill out their emergency contact information, is not only a positive step toward safety on the campus, but it also gives UCR the aura of wanting to protect students at all costs.
The new system which began on March 22, marks the first time the campus has attempted to force students to take a priority in ensuring their safety at Riverside. By proxy of the fact that all students at one time or another, need to access GROWL in order to register for classes or check their grades, the school has effectively cornered students into making a choice for the new system.
It's ingenious, really, and it should prove to be incredibly effective. Given the tragedies in recent years at colleges like Virginia Tech, the demand for school-wide safety systems has skyrocketed. Further, as Grey says, the system "enables rapid emergency notification to the entire campus community via...text messaging, e-mail, and voice mail," ensuring that the system has the capability to reach all students on the campus if a large scale crisis occurs.
Of course, like Grey says, "no system of communication is guaranteed to reach every individual under every set of circumstances." For instance, because the option to join the system or not will be given to every student on campus, there is a very slim chance that every person will choose to be involved. In addition, the notification system is effectively nullified for a student without immediate access to a computer, or with a dead cell-phone battery.
In truth, though there really is no way for the system to be perfectly implemented so that all students are equally protected in case of a crisis. With the current technology available to students, the school has taken what is by far the safest approach to ensure that the most students as possible can and will be notified, and that's worthy of praise.
It's gratifying that the school has chosen to take such a forceful step toward protecting students. In fact, the system that UCR is using is almost complete copy of the same one that Virginia Tech has implemented on its campus, whereby messages are sent to students through a third-party vendor. This ensures that students will get the notifications even if a complete technological meltdown occurs on campus.
This school still has some bugs and testing to go through before the system is perfectly integrated, but the fact that UCR has taken such measures to create a well-equipped system should prove invaluable for years to come. True, it doesn't necessarily prevent any further catastrophes from occurring, but this is probably the best substitute students will probably be able to get.
With this, it can only be hoped that the school continues to put students first when making decisions on how best to serve the campus community at large. However, with the promise of other safety measures, in addition to further assessment and development of communication technology, it doesn't seem like that will be much of an issue.
Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
Archived Announcements
- Announcement to Students from Acting Chancellor Grey
Date: 02/2008 - Announcement to Staff from Acting Chancellor Grey
Date: 02/27/2008 - Announcement from the Vice Chancellor Administration
Date: 11/07/2007