Emergency alert system keeps students informed

Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Updated: Thursday, September 2, 2010 04:09

On Aug. 20, Nick Gorgos, a junior at AASU, received a phone call from a number he did not recognize. Upon answering the call, he was notified that there was a funnel cloud spotted in the area surrounding campus.

The call came from BLAST, the university's emergency alert system.

BLAST is an emergency communication system designed to send vital messages to students' designated emergency phone number and e-mail addresses in the event of a disruption of normal campus operations or an emergency.

The emergency communication system is opereated by the University Police Department.

"BLAST emergency notifications are sent out if there is a threat to life – with the exception of the AASU campus closing," said UPD Chief Wayne Willcox.

BLAST is initiated in response to severe thunderstorms, tornados, robberies, hurricanes and other emergency situations.

"The BLAST system is helpful if you live close to campus, on campus or are attending classes," Gorgos said.

Though BLAST was effective on Aug. 20, he said he felt the system should be more accessible to students. Most students don't even know what BLAST is until they get an e-mail, text message or phone call for the first time, he said.

"Hurricane updates are beneficial because I do not have to run to the nearest computer or T.V. to find out what is going on," said sophomore Rachel Geary. "Also, I am a commuter, so BLAST is really helpful in letting me know if I should stay on campus during bad weather or go home."

With hurricane season reaching its peak, BLAST has benefits for students, equipping them with the knowledge they need to be prepared in the event of an emergency.

Willcox encouraged students, as well as faculty and staff, to check their Pirate's Cove e-mail account every semester to update their current addresses and phone numbers to ensure that they are being informed of emergencies.

"The UPD is working on BLAST to not only be connected to e-mail and cell phone providers, but through Facebook and Twitter as well," Willcox said.

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Campus crime blotter

Sodexo employees arrested, banned from campus

University Police Department Officer Michael Tyler met with a student Jan. 19 at 6:47 p.m. in the Pirate's Pantry after she noticed her United Bank debit card was missing. The student believed she lost the card in University Hall. However, through her online checking account, she discovered the card was used twice in the Pirate's Pantry that day at 3:05 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.

"The card was used improperly," said Police Chief Wayne Willcox. "That's financial transaction card fraud."

The first transaction was for Playtex tampons and a 0.2 oz bottle of Clear Eyes, totaling $5.54, and the second consisted of Nacho cheese-flavored Doritos and TGIF's spinach artichoke dip, totaling $4.79. The Pirate's Pantry staff returned the card, which had been left by the unknown offender at the counter, to the student. The manager on duty informed Tyler that a Sodexo employee ran the debit.

"Through investigation, we were able to determine that there were two employees that had some culpability and both of them got charged," Willcox said.

Austin Andrews and Jessica Moyer were arrested, banned from campus and taken to the county jail.

Cyberbullying, drugs, theft on campus

University Police officer Meagan Zike returned to police headquarters Dec. 1 in response to a report of a stolen bicycle. The student secured his mountain bike with a combination lock to a bike rack in front of the Student Union around 11:20 a.m. that morning. When he returned from classes at approximately 3 p.m., he discovered that his bike was missing.

"The problem with the cheap combination locks is that they're kind of made of a pot metal," Police Chief Wayne Willcox said. "Pot metal is where they kind of cast it — they take the metal and put it into a mold, and it sort of assumes a shape. The problem with casting is they can be very weak and also very cheap. If you really want to lock up your bike, you should use a U-lock."

Dispatch sent Officer Kenneth Louk to the Compass Point Clubhouse Dec. 3 after a student reported that her laundry was stolen from the dryer around 11 p.m. The student lost various Housing T-shirts, jeans, a hoodie and several other articles of clothing.

"We see this from time to time. This is an open campus," Willcox said. "This isn't somebody taking a T-shirt they wanted. This is somebody who just wanted to take a bunch of clothing. We have had issues with people coming on campus, and sometimes they're just looking for opportunities if the doors are open."