The alert referenced how people could give the police tips through their website or Facebook page, or a safety training class individuals can take, also citing divisions of the police force including a Crime and Intelligence Analyst team and the Behavioral Threat Assessment Team.

"MSU takes all indications of threats to our safety very seriously," the alert read. "Through these initiatives we can all be proactive about risks associated with violence."

In the event of a secure in place, used for emergencies that could put those on campus in danger, MSU generally only locks down a part of the campus. For example an emergency affecting one part of campus wouldn't that wouldn't affect a building at the other end would not necessitate a campus-wide lockdown, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. 

This is done in order to prevent panic. 

However, should a student become involved in a secure in place, MSU police ask them to follow a series of precautions.

Individuals are asked to plan an escape route and leave belongings behind, locate an interior room of the building and block the door with heavy furniture, silence phones and avoid windows. If in imminent danger, act aggressively, yell loudly or throw objects to incapacitate the attacker.

The alert system's changes included the launch of the Alert Portal in February and just last month launched improvements to better inform students of an emergency once an alert is sent out. Users are sent one of several pre-written messages about a type of emergency, later to be followed by more specific details.