Since 2005, Mississippi State University has had a plan to alert and inform students and the surrounding areas about special situations that could impact campus.
The Maroon Alert system informs students of incidents that are developing on campus or in Oktibbeha County. The system is made up of multiple ways to alert campus, including sending text messages, emails, updating the MSU webpage and alerting local media. In severe weather, sirens and loudspeaker notifications will be activated.
Bill Kibler, vice president for student affairs, said the Maroon Alert system was designed to give students multiple ways to receive information about circumstances around campus.
Kibler said there are many benefits to the Maroon Alert system. The main purpose is to keep campus safe through the multiple alerts sent out in crisis situations. Kibler also said sending out accurate information to students about various situations is the system’s primary benefit.
“It is absolutely important to inform everyone on campus (about situations) as quickly and accurately as possible,” Kibler said.
Thomas Bourgeois, dean of students, said Maroon Alert has benefits but also some drawbacks. He said some students rely on the system to provide all the information they need, but the system is only used to alert students.
“The Maroon Alert system is around to alert campus of something that is potentially hazardous or dangerous,” Bourgeois said.
Maridith Geuder, director of university relations, said the Maroon Alert system should not be used as the only way to get information, especially in weather situations. Geuder said anyone who receives Maroon Alerts should check multiple outlets to get information, such as websites, radio and television.
“Any person receiving messages needs to be proactive in looking up or gaining additional information,” Geuder said.
Geuder also said the reason there are so many avenues used by the Maroon Alert system is to encourage students to gather additional information for themselves.
MSU has a crisis action team that controls when a Maroon Alert message is sent out and what medium should be used. The team is made up of representatives from a variety of areas around MSU that include student affairs, university relations, housing, facilities, academic affairs and Information Technology Services.
Kibler is the incident commander responsible for authorizing Maroon Alerts. He said the main concern about using the Maroon Alert system is to make sure it is not overused. If a Maroon Alert is issued, students should understand that a dangerous or hazardous situation is developing on or near campus, Kibler said.
 
 
Kibler said there are two types of alerts that are issued by the system: emergency conditions and alert conditions. Under emergency conditions, a yellow bar will appear at the top of the MSU website which explains that a situation is developing. In alert conditions, a blue bar will appear at the top of the website, which is a way of drawing attention to a situation that may worsen.
Kibler said there is a price to using the text message aspect of the Maroon Alert system. MSU has a contract with a company that sends out text messages over any phone service with the push of a button. Every time a text message is sent out, it costs MSU money.
“You cannot put a price on keeping campus safe. The cost is worth it,” Kibler said.