By Susannah Wait, Editor-in-Chief
Officials plan to implement a new Emergency Alert System due to flaws in the current system.
The new system was not in place during a March 12 lockdown.
OCUPD responded to a call that shots were fired near N.W. 29th Street and Indiana Avenue.
Oklahoma City police officers were already in the area, having earlier responded to a fight at 1818 N.W. 29th, according to the university’s daily police reports.
It was the second lockdown of the academic year where the Emergency Alert System has not functioned properly, with delayed text message alerts.
The new company, Rave Alert, is in the implementation phase of the university’s new alert system.
University officials are working on being trained to use the new system, including when to use the system.
“It’s currently being installed, and we have done some training,” said Liz Donnelly, dean of students.
The company has an agreement with cell phone providers to ensure there is no delay in the text message alert system.
“Some cell providers receive batch texts and think they could be spam,” Donnelly said. “Our current company doesn’t have that agreement, so we’ve gone with another company that does.”
Some students reported never receiving the initial lockdown text alert on March 12.
“@MediaOCU just received the all clear text message, still no lock down alert text though,” tweeted Sean Crews, religion senior, at 11:28 p.m. March 12.
Text messages are not the only way students and faculty receive emergency updates. The communications department updates the university website and social media pages, officials said.
Some students found out about the lockdown from other students.
“@MediaOCU text from my sister, then email. Updates from you during, and then I learned it was lifted from you all, followed by email,” tweeted Billy McCartney, acting senior, at 11:17 p.m. March 12.
The current system is a redundant, sending out alerts in various ways.
“It is important to have a redundant system, in case one is not working properly,” Donnelly said.
President Robert Henry said the problems were with the providers.
“One important thing to realize is that the alert isn’t the first thing that happens,” he said. “First, the police go search it out and try to solve the problem. Then they try to inform students in multiple ways.”
The current alert system is still in place, and the university is contracted with the company for another year, Donnelly said.
The university will have both systems in place to ensure that alerts are sent out.
“IT is working on the new system currently,” Donnelly said. “Everyone’s Banner information will be dumped in to the Rave System, and it’s my understanding that you do not have to re-sign up.”
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