A week ago members of the Monmouth College campus received an email asking them to register for ClearTxt. While several students had already heard whispers of this program being a possibility and registered, others deleted the email not fully understanding what was being asked of them as no information had yet been released about the program.

The premature email has left the campus in somewhat of a confused state, with some of its students signed up for a program they know little about and some with no clue how to register for something they deleted from their inboxes.

The Office of Student Affairs did not intend for the email to be sent prior to the release of information about the ClearTxt program.

Even with all the confusion surrounding the implementation of ClearTxt, the Office of Student Affairs is moving ahead with its new project.

The hope is that through this service a majority of Monmouth College students can be warned of dangerous situations. President Mauri Ditzler realizes, though, warning every student is a near impossible task, saying, “You can never reach every student but if you can reach 90 percent of the students word will get around.”

According to Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Life, Jacquelyn Condon, the college will be using ClearTxt in addition to the protocols already in place.

These protocols include web messages, phone calls, distribution of printed materials, employed security staff circulating the campus and a heavy reliance on the college’s residence life staff.

According to Condon, college leaders realize that, “[text messaging] is where this generation goes for information.”

Although all the kinks and questions have not been fixed or answered, the main goal, according to Condon, is to get the system “up and running.”

The largest question, it seems, has been what to do with students who do not have text messaging plans, let alone cell phones.

Student affairs has answers for both these types of students. First, all students are encouraged to register for this plan regardless of their situation. Second, students without text messaging plans but with cell phones are eligible to receive an emergency text message.

The ClearTxt message will override any text block; however, the student will be charged the regular individual text message fee set by their carrier. For students without cell phones, they can sign up to receive both email and “pop-up” windows on their computer with the same information contained in text messages.

While ClearTxt as a company offers services behind the emergency broadcast service being employed at Monmouth College, the College is pleased to bring even this basic service to its campus.

Although Condon said that the College could always extend the services beyond what they have currently chosen, any growth in the program would hinge upon individual cost to both the students and the College. Beyond the text messaging plan now provided by ClearTxt are the College’s other vehicles to inform students of potential danger. The most effective one of these, and thus most heavily relied on, seems to be the Residents Life staff.

According to the Office of Student Life there are plans for in-service training of both head residents and resident assistants to help the staffs prepare for such an instance where ClearTxt may be used.

According to head resident of Bowers Hall, Matt Henning, “ClearTxt should help the campus be better informed during emergency situations. The in-service training should also help resident life members to be better prepared to assist students in potentially dangerous situations.”

ClearTxt is a program used as a precaution being taken by the College in order to keep its student body as informed as possible.

While Condon is overseeing the ClearTxt project, Stephanie Kinkaid, secretary in the Office of Student Affairs, will be the administer of ClearTxt. Students can direct their questions to Kinkaid. Kinkaid can be reached at 457-2114.

Return to Home -- Return to News