Following the Piedmont North shooting on March 21, Georgia State President Mark Becker promised a change-up in GSUPD’s leadership and the university’s alert techniques.
In an e-mail to the student body, Becker expressed disappointment that the university “did not promptly and effectively communicate what was happening last night as information became available.”
“We will provide more timely and frequent messages through a variety of channels to keep you informed. I welcome your feedback and suggestions as we move forward,” he said.
As promised, a new system of alerts will be installed, announced in an April 6 Campus Broadcast, in an effort to disburse more “transparent and informative” emergency notifications.
Encouraged to sign-up for text-messages, students were told they can receive emergency texts on their phone, in a similar manner as emergency weather events. The school will also release incident information through its Twitter feed, as well as the already-in-place Campus Broadcasts, with full information on happenings and precautions.
The school will also continue to utilize mass messages through the Panther Alert system, which will send out messages through text, email, phone calls, social media, and indoor and outdoor speakers. But the email said the system will only be used “in the event of severe weather or an ongoing life-threatening emergency.”
The school’s Interim Police Chief Carlton said the campus police force will also be upping its social media presence in months to come to better engage the student by during times thick and thin.
