In light of the Virginia Tech tragedy, ASU implemented a new text messaging alert system Friday.
The system represents ASU's first means of contacting students via cell phone in the event of an emergency, said Leah Hardesty, ASU spokeswoman.
Prior to the implementation of the text message system, the University relied on a 911 database to retrieve students' phone numbers. The database did not contain cell phone numbers, Hardesty said.
"The goal with this system is to reach as many people as possible through many different channels," she said.
While the University has been considering a text message communication system for more than six months, Hardesty said the role of the program changed after the Virginia Tech massacre.
Administrators decided to focus the system on emergency alerts after reviewing reports released by the state of Virginia in light of the shootings, she said.
Students must sign up for the service at www.asu.edu/go/alert_text. An ASU-Rite identification and password is required. Students will then receive a text message notifying them of extreme emergencies, Hardesty said.
"Some examples of emergencies where we would use the text message system include a natural or man-made disaster, terrorist attack or campus violence," she added.
The text message system is designed to give students only a very brief update in the event of an emergency, said Rose Snow, director of Technology Alliances for the University Technology Office.
Students will be directed in the message to visit the University's emergency Web site at asu.edu/emergency or call the University's emergency hotline at (877) 786-3385 for more information, Snow said.
The text messages can be no longer than 150 characters, and only students who receive service from participating cellular providers are eligible, she added.
Currently, Verizon, T-Mobile, Nextel, Sprint and Alltel participate in the emergency alert system, Snow said.
Students who rely on service from other providers, such as AT&T, won't be able to use the alert system unless those companies opt to sign up for the program, she added.
Snow also said students may be charged up to $0.15 to receive the text messages, unless they are Verizon customers.
Verizon is the only company of the five who has a partnership with the University, she added, and is the only company to provide the service free of charge to their customers.
"It depends on your cell phone package," Snow said. "If you don't subscribe to any text message packaging, a charge may apply."
Marketing freshman Alec Crivelli said he would sign up for the notification service since his cellular provider is Verizon.
"I think definitely less people would do it if they don't have Verizon though," he said.
Susan Whitley, a music therapy senior, said she also supported the initiative but added that she thinks the University needs to notify students of the service.
"Usually I don't do stuff unless they send me an e-mail," she said. "But, the more notification techniques, the better."
More than 1,000 people have voluntarily signed up for the service since publicly announcing it on Friday, Hardesty said.
