Editorial: Safety system is MIA

Last week, Northern Illinois University became another university plagued by school shootings. A former graduate student opened fire on the campus, killing six and then himself.

Since the Virginia Tech tragedy last year, John Carroll University administrators have been working to provide students with a text-messaging system that can send emergency information directly to cell phones.

However, the school has yet to do this. While the text-messaging system is definitely a good idea, administrators need to not only launch this program, but also implement other safety measures.

What happened at these other universities could easily happen at JCU. The more time that administrators let lapse, the more time there is for a potential crisis to occur.  
With JCU’s new text-messaging system, students have to subscribe to the service, causing potential problems like forgetting or choosing not to subscribe to other service. The administration needs to find ways to avoid these situations.

Also, administrators need to consider other possible safety precautions. For instance, Notre Dame College already conducted a live shooter drill with the South Euclid Police Department. The college has also invested in students as safety aides that work in conjunction with officials and has a campus-wide cell phone alert set up as well.
These methods are not only effective and thorough, but are also cost-efficient. It would be very simple for JCU to adopt very similar methods.
Although there are positive steps being taken to increase safety at JCU, the kinks are taking too long to work out.

Tragedy can strike at any minute, and the administration cannot afford to be dragging its feet with such a serious topic.