Some students received up to 10 text messages this week when Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura Colleges preformed a test of the district emergency notification system on March 19.
The test was performed between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. through Chief Richard DeLaO at the district office in Ventura.
Some students found the notifications annoying, as they received up to ten texts and phone calls.
Student Jeff Gabrielson, 19, was exasperated by receiving so many texts, as he has to pay for all the messages.
“Don’t they have something else to worry about?” Gabrielson said.
The test at all three colleges was the final step in unveiling the new emergency notification system that alerts registered students, faculty and staff of campus crises.
District police Chief Richard DeLaO said that students who register for the notifications will be notified solely for emergencies.
“The system will only be used on an emergency basis,” DeLaO said. “There will be absolutely no spam or junk e-mail associated with this service.”
Political Science major Thomas Bingham received the messages, and thinks that the system may be practical in a real emergency.
“It might be useful in the future,” Bingham, 20, believes that text messaging students is the most effective way to reach them. “If you don’t pick up a phone call, you can still see the text (message).”
Students who registered for the notifications received either a text message or a phone call. If the phone was not answered, the system recorded a voicemail.
Students had to confirm that they received the messages by replying to the text or pressing “1” on the phone.
Until this was done, the system called and text messaged them repeatedly until they responded or until 1 p.m.
Interior Design major Andy Beal was not contacted because he was not signed up for the notifications. However, he is now going to register.
“It’s a great idea,” he said.
Students and faculty may register for the notification program free of charge through WebStar by clicking on “Maintain Emergency Alert Information.”
