“All Clear”

According to the text message I received a few minutes ago, the area has been searched, and we’re “all clear.” Credit University Police for doing what they needed to do, and credit our emergency alert system for getting the word out ASAP.

In the wake of the Virginia Tech incident, Stony Brook, like many campuses, instituted an emergency alert system. Students and staff can enter a cell phone number in their record, and in the case of emergency — such as this — you’re notified, both by text message as well as by voice, as to what’s up. The system did its job; I got three or four texts with the alert, and just got the “all clear” a few moments ago.

Our office closed for a little while… as one of the public faces of the university, we could certainly be considered a target. We’re also sometimes in the business of telling students things they don’t want to hear — like their denial of admission — which is why it such an extreme measure might actually be justified.

Either way, hopefully this is behind us. (If you’re a Stony Brook student, log into SOLAR tonight and make sure your cell phone number and e-mail address are in there!)