TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER

LSU’s Emergency Text Messaging System is functioning as normal, said John Borne, the administrator for the Emergency Text Messaging System.

The University’s Public Affairs tested the system Tuesday morning at exactly 9 a.m., he said.

Public Affairs sent the texts to approximately 33,900 subscribers, he said.

Currently, the results are showing a 95% success rate, but Borne said he expects the numbers to drop to spring 2009’s results.

When Public Affairs tested the system in spring 2009, the results showed a 93% success rate, Borne said.

“We’re always trying to improve,” he said. “Though text technology is not robust so it’s a challenge to get the success rate as high as we can.”

Public Affairs implemented the Emergency Test Messaging System in the summer of 2008.

Borne said Public Affairs chose to communicate with the LSU community through texts because it’s the most common form of technology.

“We could do e-mail, but not everyone has their laptop on hand,” he said. “More people have it [texting] than any other technology.”

With about 33,900 subscribers, the system is popular among students.

“I love it, especially during Gustav,” said Marlon Boutin, psychology senior. “I didn’t watch TV because it wasn’t updated on LSU like the emergency texts.”

But Borne said he hopes Public Affairs won’t have to send any emergency texts.

“We only send texts out of dire importance,” he said. “We send out what the University feels needs to be communicated to the LSU community.”

Public Affairs will send texts in cases of fire, extreme weather conditions and sewer complications.