Being prepared in the event of a tragedy

By Editorial

No matter how many times it occurs, reading "school shooting" in a news headline will never get any easier.

Last Thursday, images reminiscent of Columbine and Virginia Tech replayed once again, as a Northern Illinois University graduate student opened fire in a lecture hall, killing five students before taking his own life.

It was the second shooting at a university this year, and although it did not create the media firestorm of Virginia Tech, Thursday's tragedy should be treated just as seriously, its victims given the same support from universities across the country.

But if there is any sliver of silver lining in the tragedy, it is that NIU was able to send phone messages and e-mails to its students and faculty just minutes after the shooting, alerting them of the danger and keeping them out of harm's way.

Shortly after the Virginia Tech shootings in April, Santa Clara implemented its own alert system, Connect-Ed. Like Northern Illinois, the system is designed to alert the campus via phone, text and e-mail if such a tragedy were ever to occur on our campus.

We hope that this day never comes. Still, we urge everyone on this campus to be prepared and sign up for Connect-Ed.

It is promising that registration numbers have grown to 3,890 students, 410 faculty and 708 staff, but it still isn't enough.

Just like the people who create disaster preparedness plans only after a big earthquake occurs, let's use this moment to become equally prepared for another kind of disaster. Because we should consider ourselves fortunate it didn't happen here.

Registering is quick, easy and could save your life. If you haven't already, log on to eCampus and sign up.

We hope that Santa Clara will never have to put Connect-Ed into action, but everyone on campus should be ready if such a time comes.