When students see the words “Vandal Alert” on their screen, the meaning behind it should be instantly clear. Is there a threat? Is there a major event those on campus need to be aware of?
No one outside a select group of people really knows. But they should.
Since the end of the last school year, students at the University of Idaho have seen “Vandal Alert” pop up across their screen numerous times. Each alert contained a wide range of information — from low air quality to car break-ins and suspicious packages to possible gun violence in town.
Each of those alerts exhibited wording which was either easy to understand (like low air quality) or incredibly vague.
But the most recent alert sent a different message — causing brief bouts of fear and confusion for staff and faculty across campus.
UI Journalism and Mass Media professor Denise Bennett was placed on administrative leave Jan. 24 following “unprofessional conduct” with College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences Dean Sean Quinlan and another university employee.
Bennett received her official terms and conditions of administrative leave Jan. 29, which she read in full via a YouTube live stream. The Vandal Alert was sent out the next morning, hours before students planned a peaceful sit-in at the Administration Building.
UI President Chuck Staben said during Tuesday’s Faculty Senate meeting the alert was issued partly because Bennett’s whereabouts were unknown, but denied it was sent to shut down the protest. In short, the administration foresaw a potential danger and thought to alert campus.
Staben did, however, note the abnormal level of detail included in the alert.
To say the most recent alert contained more information than its predecessors is an understatement. The standard Vandal Alert includes few specifics. In the case of an emergency, it’s almost immediately followed by an all clear message.
The “all clear” alert following the one regarding Bennett came roughly 24 hours later at 10:04 a.m., well after many classes were already in session.
The second alert was concise, but contained a link to a full explanation of the situation for those who may have been left in the dark.
Thousands of students received the alert, and to many of them, Bennett’s name and the alert’s instructions were meaningless without any background information.
To say the decision behind the alert seemed rushed and poorly planned is an understatement, seeing as confusion and concern spread across campus like wildfire.
The all-inclusive umbrella of information deemed worthy of a Vandal Alert only muddles the sole purpose of its existence — keeping the UI community informed.
— Editorial Board
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