2008 Woodie Awards
New emergency response service
John Sylva
Issue date: 6/4/08 Section: News
In response to Sept. 2007's on-campus bomb threat, WSU's Office of Communications and Marketing, with the help of CaTS, created CMES, the Campus Message Entry Service.
"CMES will allow the Crisis Communications team to rapidly send messages simultaneously through text, list-serve e-mails, and post information on the WSU homepage," said Iris Harvey, associate vice president of the Office of Communications and Marketing.
These enhancements to WSU's emergency response procedures will take place beginning in the fall of 2008, said Harvey.
According to Harvey, despite an "exhaustive investigation of the note" that claimed the bookstore would detonate at 3:00 P.M. on Sept. 5, no one was ever charged or suspected in the incident.
To students, faculty, and on-campus employees, Harvey offers advice in the event of future threats.
"The first thing to remember is to stay calm," said Harvey. "Think about where the bomb actually is, what the bomb looks like, and what will cause the bomb to explode. After you've obtained important information, call 911 on a campus phone of 775-2111 from a cell phone."
Harvey also urges that students who find a suspicious object, package, or bag should "not touch, move, or tamper with them."
"Do not use cell phones or radio equipment within 100 feet of the object," said Harvey. "Stay at least 300 feet away from the building, and don't reenter the building until instructed by emergency response personnel."
"CMES will allow the Crisis Communications team to rapidly send messages simultaneously through text, list-serve e-mails, and post information on the WSU homepage," said Iris Harvey, associate vice president of the Office of Communications and Marketing.
These enhancements to WSU's emergency response procedures will take place beginning in the fall of 2008, said Harvey.
According to Harvey, despite an "exhaustive investigation of the note" that claimed the bookstore would detonate at 3:00 P.M. on Sept. 5, no one was ever charged or suspected in the incident.
To students, faculty, and on-campus employees, Harvey offers advice in the event of future threats.
"The first thing to remember is to stay calm," said Harvey. "Think about where the bomb actually is, what the bomb looks like, and what will cause the bomb to explode. After you've obtained important information, call 911 on a campus phone of 775-2111 from a cell phone."
Harvey also urges that students who find a suspicious object, package, or bag should "not touch, move, or tamper with them."
"Do not use cell phones or radio equipment within 100 feet of the object," said Harvey. "Stay at least 300 feet away from the building, and don't reenter the building until instructed by emergency response personnel."
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