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[lostleader]

At NIU, they're saying (at least to the press) that the notification system worked perfectly. 

I hear those comments, but of course the notification system had no effect on the outcome.  Even without any notification system in place, the tragic results would have been exactly the same at NIU. 

I guess it is just me, but the tie into using cellphones as the primary source of emergency notification raises interesting questions about the student's right to have the phone available during all classes and exams, particularly for what is an extremely low probability event that requires immediate action. 

[octoprof]

At NIU, they're saying (at least to the press) that the notification system worked perfectly. 

I hear those comments, but of course the notification system had no effect on the outcome.  Even without any notification system in place, the tragic results would have been exactly the same at NIU. 

I guess it is just me, but the tie into using cellphones as the primary source of emergency notification raises interesting questions about the student's right to have the phone available during all classes and exams, particularly for what is an extremely low probability event that requires immediate action. 

In addition, it raises the question of how will students who do not own mobile phones be officially notified of a dangerous situation?

[see_wolf]

In addition, it raises the question of how will students who do not own mobile phones be officially notified of a dangerous situation?

Is there such a student?

[spork]

When notification systems are made illegal, only criminals will have notification systems.

[gayle]

when are cranks cranks? On all the universities I've worked, there always were a couple of weird people: the funny homeless guy with his guitar, they bearded guy reciting bible verses, the trotskyist paper sellers etc. None of them, I'm sure, ever were students. But does it mean we should remove them from campus? I totally disagree. A university is not like some squaky clean business. It is a service to society, and we should not try to get all phenomena not fitting our nice definitions and categories off our campus.

Without going into detail...there have been incidents involving law enforcement and lawyers.  This is not a matter of eccentricity. 

[octoprof]

In addition, it raises the question of how will students who do not own mobile phones be officially notified of a dangerous situation?

Is there such a student?

No doubt. Just as we have faculty and staff who do not own mobile phones.