Spring Break
"editorial':Snow notifications work well this month
By David Nugent
in OpinionIssue date: 2/19/09 Section: Opinion
As snow fell on Ocean County Feb 3, the college administration madethe decision to shut down the campus. This was the right decision to make, and it was handled in exemplary fashion.
Students on campus were informed by security, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the college would be closing at 5. Notices were placed on Ocean Cruiser and on OCC's main Web site almost instantly as well. In a fourth channel of communication, Cruiser Alert was used to let students know there would be no activities as of 5 p.m.
This was a fine example of the college marshalling its resources to keep people informed of an important event on campus. People were given plenty of notice if they needed to make arrangements to get off campus. Students who were not here were informed in plenty of time so they did not have to make the trip.
On the flip side, the newelectronic sign that was supposed to be the ultimate vehicle of community and campus communication was not working.
The sign, which is reminiscent of post-WWII East Berlin box architecture, mars the beauty of the landscape, leading people to look around for air-raid rubble and bombing debris. Since during the recent closure, the sign was "silent" but the closure notification went so well anyway, we wonder how much this great leap of communication is needed, especially in view of the cost of at least $118,000.
Do we need it, considering how well the other systems around campus performed, or is it an example of trying to keep up with or stay ahead of some other campus.
Students on campus were informed by security, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the college would be closing at 5. Notices were placed on Ocean Cruiser and on OCC's main Web site almost instantly as well. In a fourth channel of communication, Cruiser Alert was used to let students know there would be no activities as of 5 p.m.
This was a fine example of the college marshalling its resources to keep people informed of an important event on campus. People were given plenty of notice if they needed to make arrangements to get off campus. Students who were not here were informed in plenty of time so they did not have to make the trip.
On the flip side, the newelectronic sign that was supposed to be the ultimate vehicle of community and campus communication was not working.
The sign, which is reminiscent of post-WWII East Berlin box architecture, mars the beauty of the landscape, leading people to look around for air-raid rubble and bombing debris. Since during the recent closure, the sign was "silent" but the closure notification went so well anyway, we wonder how much this great leap of communication is needed, especially in view of the cost of at least $118,000.
Do we need it, considering how well the other systems around campus performed, or is it an example of trying to keep up with or stay ahead of some other campus.
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Princeton Movers
posted 6/25/09 @ 6:26 PM EST
It's good to see that this was handled properly and everyone was informed in a timely fashion. As for the sign, if someone came to school already and saw the sign, it would already have been too late to warn about the closing. (Continued…)
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