OSU To Reconfigure Automated Emergency Response System

Ohio State University will reconfigure its automated response system for campus emergencies after last November's car-and-knife attack exposed problems with the text-message system. The incident prompted the school to send a "Run, Hide, Fight" message to students and employees. A report by the school's safety department obtained by the Association Press found some campus contractors and visitors weren't aware of automated campus-wide alerts to seek shelter, and too much time passed between automated alerts. The initial alerts also lacked specifics about the attack. The report also shows communication between safety personnel and top university officials was cumbersome and some outside police departments weren't aware an "all-clear" message had been sent. The report recommends several changes.