This week, the university’s home page asks in bold, black letters, “Are You Prepared?” Upon first reading this question, I naturally assumed it referred to midterms. As an average unprepared student, I was both insulted and overwhelmed by this aggressive, prying question. Why is the university trying to make us more nervous about exams than we need to be? Who cares? I mean, it’s not even finals time; there is no need for this intimidating typeface. I was outraged. This is undue pressure put upon the student body. I was ready to protest, to walk out, to boycott midterms, papers, even finals. But then I kept reading.
It seems my natural assumption was simply an exposure of my own insecurities. The website has no concern as to whether I’m caught up in my reading or not. The website devotes its homepage to the question “Are You Prepared?” not for academic reasons, but because Oct. 1 through today is Emergency Awareness Week. At this point, I was no longer outraged and had forgiven the website. I was ready to read about all the fun that usually comes with an awareness week. I was thinking something along the lines of free T-shirts and, because the weather is still warm, perhaps a moonbounce or two on McKeldin Mall?
Emergency Awareness Week does seem appropriately timed given the incredible amount of crime infecting our campus recently. However, if you do the math correctly, you’ll see that Oct. 1 through today is not a week. Before you get upset and accuse the university of being negligent in the face of the large amount of crime, let’s consider the logic behind the dates.
Oct. 1 through today does add up to a five-day school week. And the university did implement the awareness week because of the recent crimes targeting students at the university. Plus, it’s on the university’s website. See what I’m getting at? Emergencies don’t happen on the weekends.
In light of recent crimes, Emergency Awareness Week is taking a more somber, serious tone, so unfortunately there are no emergency moonbounces. There are, however, other exciting events. UMD Alerts has several display tables set up throughout the campus, which offer a survival guide about, in the words of Vice President for Administrative Affairs Doug Duncan, “what to do in an array of life threatening events.” Yes, from weather emergencies to hostage situations, this week will have us prepared for anything.
The awareness week puts special emphasis on encouraging students to sign up for the UMD Alerts text messaging and e-mail system. In fact, by registering during awareness week, you are eligible to win an iPod.
Guides on how not to die and prizes for agreeing to be told when we’re in grave danger?! Who needs free T-shirts!? You can tell university officials think very highly of the student body.
Despite the allure of prizes, some people are skeptical of text-message alerts. Adults in particular are threatened by the reliance on advanced technology, for they see it as an omen of the day we become too reliant and technology turns on us and destroys our society. However, younger, still-rational people have expressed concerns as well. Many cell phone plans have limited to no free text messaging, meaning the alerts could be costly. So why is there this emphasis on text messages? Because in an emergency, there’s no time! The university can contact you immediately using abbreviations and not have to bother with the hassles of spell check.
Text messages can range from alerts of the overall threat level to step-by-step life-saving procedures. Let’s take a look at some sample alerts. If the campus is in a state of emergency, texting a simple yet poignant “OMG” lets students know something is up. More detailed instructions can follow. For instance: “gtg 2 ur dorm, asap” informs students to return to the safety of their dorms with straightforward, time-saving language.
Text messages can even quickly relay specific situations. For example, texting “Pred8or out 4 blood” would allow students to clearly understand the emergency right away. And when a situation mellows, students can be the first to know. Consider what last week’s reassuring text message could have said: “Peeping Tom apprehended ;).” If that digital smiley isn’t comforting, I don’t know what is.
Clara Morris is a senior English major. She can be reached at cmorris2@umd.edu.
