The GoldAlert system has been used quite often as of late. GoldAlert helps to notify about 9,700 students through text or e-mail when something that could effect their day on campus has happened or when there has been a change in the day’s schedule.

Most recently, daily changes have occurred because of the snow storms that have been coming through the South and making the interstates, roads and even driveways hard to navigate.

This system was implemented following the Virginia Tech shootings and has been of great help to the university, especially in this hazardous snow season said David Collins, vice president of finance and administration.

“We have used it more for winter than for anything so that people know what is going on with schedule changes,” Collins said.

Collins recognizes that communication is a key issue on a campus the size of ETSU. If an event or emergency could affect a student on this campus, information has to travel fast. This is especially true considering the common changes in the weather pattern in the Northeast Tennessee region.

Daniel O’Brien, director of environmental health, understands how important continuous communication with the students is to a fully functioning university.

“Communication is really the priority,” O’Brien said.

The benefits are numerous with this system and it has pushed the campus forward and allowed us students, faculty and staff to be on the same page as far as changes on and around campus, Collins said.

“We don’t have problems as far as students receiving messages and it has been a really good system for us,” said O’Brien.

Even though the system is a good way to get the message out to students at a quick rate, concerns for some students are still there as far as using caution in order to get to class on days where the road conditions are questionable.

Ann-Maria Fleming echoed these feelings following a story of how her friend was sliding on the roads to classes one day, because of the icy conditions; the university had decided not to close classes for that day.

“They tell you to use discretion but in reality you still have to be there,” Fleming said.

However, according to GoldAlert e-mails sent to faculty and students, once the decision is made to hold classes, students have to use their own judgment when trying to decide whether to attend class.

“We have students that come from a long way, but keep in mind that we have an educational mission and certainly have class if at all possible,” Collins said.

O’Brien said that this region does not have the same snow-shoveling capabilities that are offered in different parts of the United States, such as the North.

“I am from the North and so I didn’t completely understand all of the closings down here.” O’Brien said.

“Then, I moved down here and got into the mountains and realized why they’re closing and that is because there is not the same equipment and it is very rural.

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