Editor,
On Friday, I noticed an Albuquerque Police Department Bomb Squad vehicle, a fire truck and police cars speeding to UNM. Obviously, this raised my curiosity concerning what was occurring on campus, especially with the recent shootings at Virginia Tech. UNM implemented a text messaging service to keep students aware of occurrences on campus that could potentially harm students. Believing that UNM was taking a positive step toward informing students immediately about such occurrences, I immediately signed up for the text message service. However, despite seeing APD rush to UNM, I did not receive any sort of notification that there was a bomb scare.
When I questioned a parking service attendant at UNM, I was told it was a police matter and that he did not know anything about the text message system. In addition, UNM Police did not know if students were being informed via the newly implemented text message system. Instead, I read about the bomb scare on the Albuquerque Journal's Web site.
This raises my concern that perhaps UNM doesn't think students should truly be aware of every event on campus that could potentially be dangerous to students, faculty, staff and visitors. However, this is not the first time UNM has neglected to inform students of such events. About a week prior to Friday, another incident occurred in which the APD Bomb Squad was called upon. This incident occurred after the text message system was implemented. It occurred on North Campus, and I was unable to attend my class in the pharmacy building, because there was a chemical leak in one of the classrooms. Had I been informed of this via the text messaging system, I may have avoided that part of campus for my safety.
Although nothing dangerous happened, I still feel that UNM lacks responsibility in notifying students of occurrences around campus despite what seemed like genuine concern for student safety. The text message system has yet to be proven effective, but its effectiveness could be improved if UNM actually used the system as promised.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Victoria Gutierrez
UNM student
