Human Error Causes False Evacuation Alert by N
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Friday, NovemberNEWS 16, 2007 Technique • Friday, November 16, 2007 • 1 “The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper” Greek community launches new recycling initiative. Volume 93, Issue 16 Page 11 28 pages ONLINE www.nique.net TECHNIQUEServing Georgia Tech since 1911 Human error causes false evacuation alert By N. Denisse Gonzalez when a group of students in the back At the ES&T building, Altizer Contributing Writer of the room told their professor of an was notifi ed by a police offi cer that emergency evacuation message they someone had sent out an emergency Last Thursday, following a had just received on their phones. As notifi cation for campus wide evacu- small chemical explosion in the the fourth-year International Aff airs ation. Ford Environmental Science and and Modern Languages major and “It was not something I wanted Technology building, the Tech com- his classmates walked away from to hear, because it was not a situation munity received a series of emergency campus, Hylton received a voice that would ever begin to warrant a notifi cation messages even though message with instructions to evacu- campus evacuation. We immediately the evacuation was restricted to the ate. Shortly thereafter, he received made a decision to retract the mes- ES&T building. two other messages to disregard the sage, before we knew who sent it or “It was strictly human error. evacuation notice. how it was sent. We are extremely Someone sent it out who evidently “Your heart speeds up, because sorry that it even went out. It was had the capability but did not have you don’t know what’s going on. a surprise and a disappointment,” the authority to send the message What wasn’t going on that they origi- Altizer said. and should have never sent it,” said nally thought was happening? At the Altizer did not disclose the iden- By Blake Israel / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Andy Altizer, Director of Emergency same time, I saw a news helicopter tity of the individual who sent out The Atlanta Fire Department responds to a report of an explo- Preparedness. fl ying over. I was totally confused sion in the Ford Environmental Science and Technology building. Peter Hylton was sitting in class on what to do,” Hylton said. See Alert, page 4 INCIDENT Approximate times of 12:24. Evacuation 12:26. Evacua- 12:32. Text mes- 12:33. E-mail 12:35. First evacu- 12:39. Auto- the emergency alerts alert text message tion alert e-mail sage retracting retraction of emer- ation alert auto- mated phone call TIMELINE sent to students. sent to students. sent. alert. gency alert . mated phone call. retracting alert. Students present feedback on Tech Rec proposal Dining halls go tray-less By Ranganath Venkataraman Senior Staff Writer Patrons of Brittain and Wood- ruff Dining Halls are noticing the absence of a previously essential entity: the tray. Th e tray’s absence marks another foothold that Tech has established in its response to the water crisis, ac- cording to Shequita Barnes, Dining Services marketing manager. “Th is was a decision that was made by Dining Services, with the support of Auxiliary Services. Some of the immediate need is brought on by the water shortage that we are experiencing locally,” Barnes said. By Andrew Ash / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Barnes indicated that, as a re- Posters showing new design concepts for Tech Rec are set up in front of the entrance. One of the new key design elements is a multi- gional organization, Dining Services purpose room to be incorporated into the current space. Students were able to post their comments on the the proposed changes. had a duty to play its role in help- ing to alleviate the water shortage By Emily Chambers to cover annual custodial, mainte- indicated that less than 10% of the design is an attempt to accommodate situation. Senior Staff Writer nance and utility fees, and SGA has student population used Tech Rec the growth areas of use, which is par- “Our governor has been work- allocated a portion of the Student on a weekly basis. Over just the past ties and group functions, while still ing feverishly to try to mitigate the Last week the Student Center Activity Fee to Tech Rec, paying year there has nearly been a 25% supporting all the previous uses of water shortage situation and we feel revealed plans to renovate Tech Rec, $30,000 to employ the student as- decline in regular student use. Dis- Tech Rec,” said Rich Steele, director that part of our responsibility is to the multi-purpose recreational space sistants who run it. Even with these satisfaction with pricing, food op- of the Student Center. try to support the initiatives that on the bottom fl oor of the Student Th e Student Center initially the state has, in reducing our water Center. Th e proposed renovations Photo illustration by approached the upper adminis- consumption,” Barnes said. Jon Drews / STUDENT include the creation of additional PUBLICATIONS tration with a request for a capital Th e elimination of tray usage lounge space, a multi-purpose room, budget last March. In order to has proven to be a potent solution new seating options and billiard accommodate the growing to the water problem, according to areas and a renovated entrance. demand for event space, the Barnes. A display outside the facility idea of a multi-purpose room “We have to wash those trays displaying the new plans and was incorporated into the everyday,” Barnes said. Dining soliciting student input quickly renovations. Services’ research has shown that fi lled with sticky notes express- Th e Student Center was granted the tray-less initiative would save ing confusion over the purpose of tions and equipment a $230,000 budget for renovations a total volume of 3000 gallons of the added room and the impetus subsidies as well as ex- maintenance are also and upgrades this year, $30,000 of water daily. for what seems to be a change to the tensive lay-off s, price common complaints which has already been allocated on Th is number stems from a cal- Tech Rec identity. increases and cut-backs within Tech on the surveys, all of which are a new point of sale system for Tech culation that multiplied the water Over the past 10 years Tech Rec Rec, the center has still incurred over being tentatively addressed in the Rec. Th e system was put in place consumption rating of the dish has incurred signifi cant losses in $200,000 in lost revenue. redesign plans. earlier this fall. Th e funds will be machine by the hours taken to revenue, forcing both the institute Student surveys over the past 10 “Th e biggest concern was that supplied by Auxiliary Services, and clean trays. and Student Government Associa- years have also shown a signifi cant there were 14,000 square feet of space none of the renovation budget will be Th e program, which was initi- tion to step in to help cover costs. Th e decline in use of the space. Th e which lacked signifi cant use, and so Institute has been paying $50,000 student survey from spring of 2007 a change needed to be made. Th e See Tech Rec, page 5 See Trays, page 2 2 • Friday, November 16, 2007 • Technique NEWS Technique Online Voice your opinion! From the files of the GTPD... Last issue’s question received 97 responses. How do you feel about the Tech Rec proposal? Campus Crime I don’t care, I never go It’ll be great to have the extra to Tech Rec - 34% room available - 9% Burglary Health-Safety 11/8/2007 11:45:00 hrs. 11/6/2007 12:00:00 hrs. Location: Athletic Association Location: Institute of Paper Science Criminal Trespass Incident: Report of stolen laptop and Technology 11/6/2007 16:00:00 hrs. computers Incident: Report of suspicious mail Location: North Ave. Apartments Incident: Report of damages to an Driving Under the Influence Larceny-Theft electronic exit sign and elevator 11/10/2007 4:09:00 hrs. 11/11/2007 20:00:00 hrs. button Location: Sixth Street Apartments Location: Fifth St. @ Spring St. 11/6/2007 21:33:00 hrs. Incident: Offender arrested for Incident: Report of stolen exit signs Location: Student Center parking driving under the influence of deck (Clydeck) alcohol and driving on the wrong 11/13/2007 23:28:00 hrs. It’s okay as long as bowling It’s a total step in the wrong side of roadway Incident: Report of a broken win- Location: Wing Nuts is still there - 14% direction - 43% dow and a damaged ignition on a Incident: Report of a stolen tip jar silver ‘04 Mitsubishi Lancer By Kenny Baskett / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Information This week’s question: 11/6/2007 8:00:00 hrs. 11/6/2007 4:26:00 hrs. 11/13/2007 14:50:00 hrs. Will you take future emergency alerts seriously? Location: North Ave. Apartments Location: Edge Athletic Center Location: Campus Recreation Center Incident: Report of a damaged call Incident: Report of suspicious Incident: Report of a stolen cell Tell us at www.nique.net box phone calls phone, camera, wallet and contents about our sustainability efforts tions of their own to advance water Brittain, so you don’t have to wait GT dining could also switch to from page 1 overall. We have introduced various preservation. in line anymore just to get a tray, paper but still use trays. That might Trays measures in our operation that serve “I’m in support of the changes, plates, napkins, and silverware,” save just as much water but would ated on Nov.