The College of Waterloo says a evaluate of its emergency notification system following a stabbing in a classroom has led to the implementation of a brand new platform.
On June 28, 2023, police responded on campus after a recently-graduated pupil went right into a lecture class in Hagey Corridor and stabbed three individuals, together with the professor.
Workers and college students had been left questioning what was occurring, many saying they needed to flip to social media or different individuals within the absence of data supplied by the college.
“It was mainly just like friends and word-of-mouth,” mentioned second 12 months pupil Mehul Sharma. “No one was even sure what happened exactly. And it was quite a failure on the university’s part.”
The College of Waterloo has an emergency notification app referred to as WatSAFE, however regardless of the app being examined simply hours earlier than the stabbing, it wasn’t used within the rapid aftermath. Some college students mentioned the primary alert got here out greater than an hour after the incident and described it as obscure.
Talking to CTV in July 2023, college president Vivek Goel admitted the shortage of communication was an issue.
“We know that WatSAFE, and how we use it, has to be better,” he mentioned.
The college is now changing WatSAFE with a brand new built-in emergency notification system referred to as Regroup Cellular.
The college didn’t present a spokesperson to debate the brand new app and the protocols round its use.
They did say an intensive evaluate of the Regroup Cellular app was achieved and it meets the varsity’s cybersecurity and data privateness necessities.
In an e mail to Ontario Chronicle, the app builders mentioned: “The university can now send alerts across multiple channels, including SMS, voice calls, desktop alerts and push notifications to the Regroup Mobile app, ensuring everyone—students, faculty, and staff—receives real-time information, no matter where they are. This system provides a much broader reach and faster dissemination of important updates. By expanding how they communicate in critical situations, [the University of] Waterloo has taken a big step toward keeping its community informed and safe in any emergency.”
College students mentioned getting data from official sources when there’s a security concern on campus is vital to them.
“You’ve got to know: ‘Maybe I shouldn’t go to this class today. Maybe I should stay home,’” defined third-year pupil Daniel Romagnoli. “Just knowing what’s happening around you is always good.”
“I think feeling safe on campus, especially for first-years who aren’t used to the campus, is really important,” pupil Zohra Ali informed Ontario Chronicle.
However second-year pupil Mehul Sharma notes that for the system to work, these on campus have to obtain the app.
“I guess I should because it’s a good thing for safety, so I think I will, but I don’t know if most students will.”
The college mentioned the WatSAFE app will cease performing on Oct. 1 and the Regroup Cellular system will turn into the only real emergency notification system.
Within the meantime, they’re asking college students and workers to maintain WatSAFE on their telephones and units.
