Shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb?

Question

How can we better get an alert out campuswide? alert like tornado alert? what are your suggestions

Answer 1

I agree that there needs to be something done, but you have to be careful, so that it would not be abused. So many times, in a case of emergency, people panic and that could cause people to run towards the problem and not away from it, so the solution needs to meet many requirements for the safety of all of the innocent.

Answer 2

Well I live a few blocks from the campus, and I didn't hear any warning sirens, just the ambulances and firetrucks as they rushed to the scene. I think they should issue some sort of alert device to all the students. It may be expensive but at least everyone could be alerted at once.

Answer 3

One of the suggestions I heard while watching the TV coverage on the internet, was to have some sort of audible and visual sirens and lights on the buildings.  Also, since many students did not have access to computers at the time, text messaging on cell phones could be used.

Answer 4

If you had a good answer, you'd be rich right now!  I think that's something universities are still struggling with.

I don't really know that there's a lot that can be done differently.  Cell phone calls and text messages (both supposedly on my university's notification order before sending an e-mail, provided you give them your #) are really about as far as I think would be reasonable.  How many college campuses haven't *ever* had a shooting?  I think anything like sirens would probably be too much -- if anything, several people would think it was over bad weather since the system would never actually get used except for that one time, and so they'd then start running inside.

I also think the same discussion would apply to air travel.  That's still generally regarded as the safest mode of transportation, isn't it?

Answer 5

im so agree on monday i was in college lock down some 18 yr old kid brought a gun to school and treated his girlfriend to kill her....why cant  we be safe?

Answer 6

at my school we have a thing we do. over the announcments the prinicipals says a signal one that only teachers know. like pipes are down something like that... then we turn off all lights lock doors pull blinds down on windows and all get in the corner where you couldnt see if someone looked through the door. i think its a pretty good plan but then again im only in middle school