Students may receive more Alert Carolina messages

Following a handful of shooting incidents on Franklin Street last semester, many students received what they considered a not-so-timely warning from Alert Carolina.

Paige Comparato, speaker of Student Congress, said she was concerned.

Comparato introduced a resolution to the full body Dec. 4, which proposed that all gunmen within a mile of campus should be classified as an emergency by Alert Carolina.

The resolution passed almost unanimously, with only two representatives voting against it.

Dean of Students Jonathan Sauls contacted Comparato to meet with her after receiving a copy of the resolution.

On Jan. 23, Sauls, Comparato and a group of public safety administrators and officials discussed the resolution in further detail.

Comparato reported the results at the full Student Congress meeting Tuesday night.

She said she was excited and reassured to see so many administrators open to discussing the resolution.

Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs, who attended the initial meeting, said they talked openly about challenges.

“We were able to hear from Paige and understand each other’s perspectives, and come out of it with plans for moving forward.”

Both Crisp and Chief of Police Jeff McCracken said Comparato’s resolution raised legitimate concerns.

Comparato said she told the group that many students had reported receiving the notifications late or not at all.

But she said they have since responded and are working with Information Technology Services to fix the issue.

McCracken said notifications are not sent out until all details have been confirmed.

But Comparato suggested sending out a “placeholder” notification to put students on high alert when the Department of Public Safety is still processing information.

She suggested finding a better way to notify local businesses when there are possible threats in their area.

Comparato said she felt her suggestions were well received and are good steps toward involving the University community, students and administrators.

McCracken said they are taking all of her suggestions into consideration.

“We’re going to continue to see how we can improve and create the best system possible,” he said.

All parties said the most significant thing to come out of the meeting is the open communication between student leaders and the administration.

“Continued sharing of viewpoints and perspectives helps everyone to understand better and increase trust and make a better and more cohesive system,” Crisp said.

After Comparato presented the results to Student Congress, the floor was opened for comments. But none were made.

“This was a prime example of (Student) Congress connecting the students to the administrators and being the representatives that we’re meant to be,” Comparato said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.