The Telecommunications Department and the Department of Housing and Dining Services have set up voice mail boxes for students with Johns Hopkins University telephone service, including all students living in residence halls and the Homewood Apartments. The voice mail service went into effect at no charge two weeks ago.
As a result of the events that occurred on Sept. 11, the University has tried to improve communications on and off campus. If any emergency occurs, the voice mail service can be utilized to broadcast any emergency announcements to students.
As Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs Dennis O'Shea explained, the voice mail service essentially provides two services. First, the service can be used to inform students of any emergency information. Second, the service allows students, families, and friends to have better communication, in case of an emergency. For example, families can call their students and leave a message in their voice mail boxes. Students can also re-record their outgoing message for callers to hear. In this way, families and students can communicate with each other even if students are not in their rooms or if they are using the phone line.
Director of Telecommunications Services Beth Rodier said, "For safety reasons, the voice mail service gives students the means to get information quickly, and provides a better way for parents to communicate with the students."
Until now, the University has used several other methods to communicate with students through E-mail, a telephone hot line normally used for information regarding inclement weather and the University's Web site.
Director of Housing and Conference Services Tracey Angel said, "I think people were looking at their plans differently because of recent events and people are factoring different information into what they are doing. Not everyone has Internet access, so I think phone systems is the direction that we have headed towards."
The Telecommunications Department, which is responsible for all telephone operations, had to build about 800 voice mail boxes, through a software program because only 259 voice mail boxes had already been set up. Students can use the voice mail box to hold five messages for up to five days.
Angel said, "Should there be an emergency, the University has a way to contact all students. If there are any major problems, it would be easy for students to receive any critical information."
O'Shea said, "The idea that we learned on Sept. 11 was that communication is the key for students and families in times of emergencies. The Telecommunications Department has tried to make this communication as easy as possible.
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