By Becky Snider
McDaniel College has implemented a new security alert system that enables college officials to contact the college community in less than a minute if an emergency arises.
Dubbed “The McDaniel Alert”, the program sends alerts via phone, fax and text message to everyone signed into the program. Members of the college community can sign into the program by contacting Campus Safety.
Perhaps the most effective part of the new alert system is that “it allows us (the DoCS) to communi?cate with students almost instantly,” said Director of Campus Safety Mike Webster.
To date, more than 500 people are in, according to Webster.
The college started to think about incorporating an alert program with the Department of Campus Safety sometime around May or June of 2007. Colleges across the nation have implemented a similar system, especially after the tragic events at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.
With the more recent shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, on February 14, it is becoming more and more apparent that incorporating this system into McDaniel and even all educational institutions across the nation is a very smart idea.
A similar program was launched on August 23, 2007, at George Mason University in northern Virginia. According to a recent article in Mason, “the ‘Mason Alert’ has passed the 10,000 mark in total registrations. Registration for the program is open indefinitely.”
As of right now, the McDaniel Alert is open to all students and faculty members.
“The more students, faculty and staff members who know about an alert, the safer all of us will be,” Webster said.
The college investment in the alert system is a worthwhile expense according to Webster, who noted that McDaniel’s system is very “cost effective”.
Webster also noted that “the pricing was very competitive.” The company that powers the McDaniel Alert is TechRadium. Their IRIS or Immediate Response Information System is what would be used by school officials to relay any and all critical messages.
An official from IRIS was contacted and asked a few questions about the standard price for a college of our size. In general the price range starts at $3 per person per year. This is based on a limited use estimate. The exact amount or price range that McDaniel paid could not be determined.
Mike Webster feels very optimistic about the new system. The amount of participation already bodes well for the McDaniel Alert.
“I think it’s something to just keep families alerted?aware,” said sophomore Sarah Martin.
When asked if she was going to sign up for the new alert program Martin said, “Yeah, I mean I’d definitely sign up for it.” Martin gave the impression that her parents were really the ones pushing for her to sign up for the program.
Sometime after Spring Break, the college is hoping to test the system. This test run will allow the Department of Campus Safety to repair and adjust to any problems the college might run into. In the words of Mike Webster, “No technology is perfect.”