U of C to review safety policies after U of A deaths
3 dead, 1 in hospital after armoured-car robbery at the University of Alberta
The University of Calgary says it will review their safety policies after the deadly robbery at the University of Alberta last night.
Head of security Lanny Fritz said that if anything like what happened in Edmonton happens in Calgary, alerting 33,000 staff and students would be a challenge, but said the university has an elaborate alert system in place.
"Our emergency response plan is always under review," he said. "After an incident such as this we'll start reviewing it the following day.... That's just a normal course of action for us."
WATCH: CBC Calgary TV News
Tonight at 5 and 6 p.m. MT Bryan Labby talks with U of C students, teachers about the armed robbery deaths on the Edmonton campus.
More than 33,000 emails would be sent, a tweet would go out to their nearly 17,000 Twitter followers and 11,000 people are registered to get a text message in emergency situations, said Fritz.
Eleven out of 40 buildings are equipped to broadcast an emergency warning over the intercom and they are working to get more online, said Fritz.
Fritz said the university often reviews its safety procedures when an event like this happens.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families & friends of those whose lives were lost as a result of the tragic incident at #UAlberta," tweeted the University of Calgary just after 10 a.m. MT.
#UAlberta is the hashtag posters have been using to make their tweets searchable.
U of C students said they are shocked by the deadly robbery.
First-year student Joshua Corcoran said the news makes him question security at campuses across the country.
Corcoran said he thinks alerts are key for safety, but questioned how many people know that they should sign up for text alerts.
"I didn’t, and I'm sure if you asked five other people — maybe one other person will know," said Corcoran.
"Maybe they have it in the newsletters or bulletins, or whatever, but I don’t really have time to look at those. So if they made themselves more visible by getting out and talking to students, I think that would be really important."
Twitter lit up with news of the shootings, and many Edmonton students expressed disappointment that they heard about the incident on social media first.
"I hope #UAlberta improves their emergency alert system. Didn't receive any text last night," tweeted physical education student Eric Chan.
U of A spokesperson Jamie Hanlon told CBC News on Friday morning that the school didn't sent out a text alert because police had quickly cleared area.