Clarion University students, staff and faculty can be warned, in a timely fashion, of life-threatening situations on campus.

The warning system is a program that allows anyone with a Clarion e-mail address or computer access to register two cell phone numbers and two e-mail addresses to receive emergency messages.

The service is completely voluntary. A person may opt-in or opt-out at any time.

Messages will only be sent if the person registers for the service.

The system delivers emergency alerts to all registered mobile phones, Blackberry’s, wireless PDAs, pagers, Smart or Satellite phones, all Clarion e-mail users and the university

Web site. Alerts can also pop up to anyone using Google, Yahoo, or AOL as their home page.

After registration, a person will be able to add parents’ alternate e-mail addresses or cell phone numbers to their account.

The university will use the system for life-threatening events only.

On Tuesday from 10 am to 4 p.m. in Gemmell people were able to come and sign up for the university’s emergency text alert system or update their existing record. 

The first 200 students who signed up or updated their records received an “Achieve” t-shirt.

Everyone who came to the table could also be entered in a drawing to win an iPod Touch.

The emergency alert service is free and will only be used to give time-sensitive information on life-threatening events or to alert the community that the campus is closing due to bad weather or other emergencies.

If anyone has registered for the service; but their phone, phone number, or phone carrier has change, then they may need to update the record to make sure they receive any future emergency alerts. 

Anyone can register for the service or manage their account at any time.

Even if they didn’t make it to Gemmell on Tuesday, all they have to do is go to http://www.clarion.edu/eaglealerts.

The information a person enters into the system is completely confidential.

Information will not be shared with anyone and will not be retained by the university beyond the opt-out date determined by the student in the registration process..