In the wake of the murderous rampage by a student at Virginia Tech University on April 16, 2007, during which 32 individuals were killed by the gunman and emergency communication to members of that community proved difficult, Boston College has developed a series of new emergency preparedness measures, including a system that can send thousands of text, voice, and e-mail messages instantly.

Illustration: Eamonn Bonner

“At Virginia Tech,” notes Boston College police chief Robert Morse, “it was clear that students weren’t using the traditional forms of communication” such as land phones and e-mail. By sending text messages to cell phones, Boston College’s new mass-messaging system can notify students of an emergency wherever they are.

At the request of the University, more than 11,000 of Boston College’s 14,395 students have added their cell phone numbers to their land phones and address information on their Boston College accounts, as have faculty and staff in large numbers. Boston College has also contracted with Verizon to create a toll-free hotline that will allow access from anywhere to recorded news and updates even if land and cell phone lines become clogged during an emergency (617-552-INFO).

In response to concerns raised by an outside audit of emergency security measures undertaken during the summer, Boston College has also determined to hire a full-time director of emergency management and to create an on-campus emergency operations center. A campus-wide public address notification system is also being considered.

Boston College has also created a new website called BC/Prepared to serve as a clearinghouse for all emergency information. The site includes an outline of the University’s emergency response protocols, advice for students, parents, faculty, and staff, and contact information for safety-related offices on campus.

Read more by Tim Czerwienski