On Jan. 30, the McGill administration and Emergency Measures Office sent an email notifying all students of their new emergency announcement system, Alertus. Citing the Jutras Report and its recommendation to enhance administration-to student-body communication, Alertus provides the administration with an additional tool if events such as Nov. 10 were to happen again. This system, when installed on a desktop or laptop, can be used by the administration to notify students of any emergency with the use of a pop-up announcement.
When asked if this system was worth installing, SSMU President Maggie Knight outlined a balanced perspective of its merits and a recognition that although she hasn’t downloaded it personally, some may find it useful. However, she also had doubts as to whether this system would be actually effective.
“I think this decision is up to each student, based on their own schedules and circumstances,” she said. “For instance, not every student has a laptop that they use to do work on campus. I would imagine that it makes sense for most students to sign up for at least one of the two systems (Alertus or the mass texting system).”
“A message making students aware of what was happening during the events of Nov. 10 could have been helpful, but presumably McGill might have had the same concerns that led to the decision not to use the mass texting system,” she added.
The Jutras report stated that one of the failings of Nov. 10 was the fact that administrators did not inform students of events because of the risk that more students would join, rather than avoid, the protest. Although the Tribune asked a member of the administration how this new system addresses this scenario, there was no reply at time of print.
Students shared similar scepticism about the Alertus system, especially in regards to its utility, convenience, and purpose.
“I don’t think I care enough to install it. But doesn’t it need Internet? Then what is the difference between sending us an email? Isn’t sending a text better?” Michelle Ma, a U1 cognitive science student, said.
Other students suggested a rethinking of the mass announcement system altogether, suggesting instead that students take charge of their own security.
“There needs to be participation from the student body for it to be effective. We don’t need the administration telling us this. As much as this ‘vertical’ component of security is essential, ‘horizontal’ participation by the student body, such as through student body twitter feeds are as essentially if not more so during events such as Nov. 10,” Keegan Chang, U2 political science, said.
