Watch peoples’ reactions to universities who use Facebook.com as an emergency alert system.
While MSU implemented a text message alert system last year to warn students of emergencies, other universities also are using technology in the name of campus safety.
Last month, the University of Maryland at College Park started a Facebook.com group for students to receive emergency information, talk with each other about emergencies and share information with family.
Other schools — Florida State University, the University of Iowa and the University of California-Los Angeles, for example — also are exploring using social networks for emergency alerts.
MSU, however, is not looking into the idea.
“This could cause some legal and security issues for us, so we just haven’t looked into it,” MSU police Inspector Bill Wardwell said.
Wardwell did support the idea of peer-to-peer emergency information-sharing.
“I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “Particularly if they can trade information with their parents or family.”
Some students think a Facebook group might be just as beneficial as the text system.
“I haven’t even used it,” Alex Carson, a finance and supply chain management senior, said of the current system. “With Facebook, it’s widespread around campus. I’m sure thousands of people are on it as we speak, so I think it’s a good idea.”
Predental freshman Ashley Huiras wasn’t sure about the idea working across campus but said it seemed logical.
“I’m on it all time,” Huiras said of Facebook. “It would work for me if I knew what was going on.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
