Molly Sellers

Journalism 110
Professor Kristina Morehouse
23 October 2014
Bomb Threat Sparks Controversy Over University Alert System
The first real test of Gonzaga Universitys alert system caused some confusion for
students, faculty and staff.
ZagAlert, Gonzaga Universitys emergency notification system, was designed to
alert the campus to threats including significant emergency or dangerous situations
involving an immediate threat to health or safety occurring on campus.
On Sept. 25, Gonzaga University was evacuated around 8:20 a.m. after a nonspecific bomb threat was called in Thursday morning. While some people received timely
information, others did not. Still others received conflicting orders.
The universitys current emergency notification system, ZagAlerts, was created to
make its students, faculty and staff aware and offer direction upon the Universitys
confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate
threat to health or safety occurring on campus, according to the campus web site. In
some cases where the emergency is significant enough where minutes count, the system
will send a voice message to all phone numbers provided as well as text messages and emails.
On the day of the threat, Spokane Police received a call about 7 a.m. from a man
saying there was bomb on the Gonzaga University campus. However, the man did not
specify where the bomb was located, causing a campus-wide evacuation.

Word of the evacuation went out through ZagAlert. A voice message was sent to
all provided numbers within the emergency alert system, informing people of the bomb
threat and giving students, faculty, and staff instructions on what to do next. The message
read, Close all room doors, windows and shades. A building-by-building sweep is
underway. Please remain calm and follow these instructions as quickly as possible. If you
are not on campus please avoid coming to campus. The message was sent out with
purpose to inform the Gonzaga community immediately, however, many students were
informed of the incident in other ways.
Alexandra Roland, a sophomore at Gonzaga University, found out about the
evacuation through the social media application Yik Yak, a platform similar to Twitter,
but anonymous. At first, I thought it was a joke, Roland said. I was mainly worried
because I had to be at work in a couple minutes, and I didnt know if I should go or not.
Roland works at Einstein Bros Bagels on the university campus, located in Cataldo Hall.
The sophomore said she finally received the notification about 15 minutes later via text,
email, and phone call from ZagAlert, prompting her to stay off campus.
Other social media platforms alerted students through out the morning about the
event as well, but none seemed to be carrying the same message. Gonzaga University
Kennel Club posted on Twitter that all classes were cancelled for the day while Gonzaga
University tweeted that only certain buildings were safe to re-enter, causing confusion
about whether to go to class.
It was unclear what was actually meant, Roland said. Twitter and Facebook
accounts were saying different things than ZagAlert and vise-versaI didnt feel
comfortable leaving my apartment. Roland lives in an on-campus apartment located on

the north side of the university, and she remained there until her boss notified her that the
campus was clear.
Another Gonzaga student had an entirely different experience with the bomb
threat. Sophomore, Reagan Wiley, was notified to stay in her dorm by her Resident
Assistant. Im not signed up for ZagAlert, so I had no idea what was going on until my
RA told me there was a bomb threat, said Wiley. Its scary and irritating at the same
time that I didnt get any alerts, at all. The system only works if students are signed up
to receive the ZagAlert, something students are advised to do through their ZagWeb
accounts.
ZagAlert is a very green system, implemented just last year. Gonzaga is fortunate
enough to have an emergency notification system, whereas not all universities do. Shanae
Bigony, a senior at Gonzaga University, says over the four years shes been at the
university, shes never experienced anything like the bomb threat. Bigony lives offcampus and says she found out about the threat via text message from a friend, and soon
after she received a text from ZagAlert telling her not to come on campus.
Many students are signed up for ZagAlert, but many are still not. How effective
and safe is an emergency notification system if not all students are getting alerted?
Roland formed her opinion on the matter, The system that is in place is good, but I dont
think the campus is using the system the right way.
Roland said that she received the ZagAlert at different times than her roommates.
She also commented how the message being communicated was unclear whether or not
she was allowed to return to campus.

Many students had ideas for alternative ways to get the message across to all
students and how the current system could be improved. They should alert everyone
through their Gonzaga email, said Wiley. The sophomore said the school has everyones
email already and it would make sense that every student get notified.
Roland, wasnt dissatisfied with the system, however, she suggested the
university find a way to reach all students and reach all students in a timely fashion.
Luckily, there was no actual bomb on campus and everyone was safebut one day
there might be a situation that is real... it would be unfortunate if anyone got hurt,
Roland said.
Gonzaga University students are encourages to sign up for ZagAlert, given that
this is the only current emergency notification system in place. Students can sign up to
receive emergency alerts at www.gonzaga.edu/Campus-Resources/Offices-and-ServicesA-Z/MarketingandCommunications/News-Services/zagalert.asp.