Point Park students were unable to find information for PointAlert emergency notification system this week because of error notices encountered while following a link provided on the school's web page.

The problem was a dead link, the result of “internal reorganizing of the website,” said Louis Corsaro, Managing Director of University Marketing and Public Relations. 

“If a student searched for ‘Point Alert’ as two words, a dead link was listed first,” Corsaro said in an email interview. “The proper link was underneath it. If they search for ‘PointAlert’ as one word, the proper link is on top.”

The dead link was in no way related to the operation of the PointAlert system. 

"The system itself was always functional, and the signup system always worked," said Corsaro.

Students, faculty and staff can sign up for PointAlert to receive emergency notification and school closing messages from the Point Park Public Safety Department via email and/or text messages.

For commuter students like Olivia Mazzocco, sophomore photography major, the choice to enroll in Point Alert centered on her concern for traveling roadways during winter.

“I don’t want to travel on dangerous roads just to get to school and find that classes have been cancelled. If I  need to know something, I don’t usually check my email. If it’s important, it’s easier if it comes to my phone.”

On the other hand, Kaitlyn Frazier, junior mass communications major, was frustrated when she encountered the dead link. 

“I am not likely to try again,” Frazier said. “I’m looking for convenience; a website should work.”

Shortly after the problem was brought to the attention of Information Technology Services late Wednesday afternoon, the dead link was removed. Now, whether students search PointAlert as two words or one, they will be led to the proper active link.

The problem did not cause any security issues, according to Point Park officials.

“Point Alert system operation was not affected by the dead link on the university web page,” Bernard D. Merrick, director of Public Safety, said. “The PointAlert system on our campus and other campuses across the country use e2Campus software. Protocols are followed and there is a plan and procedures in place to determine how the message is sent out.”

The emergency notification software, e2Campus was developed by Omnilert. According to the company’s web page, after reading about college freshman, Jeanne Clery, who was raped and murdered in her residence hall in 1989, the founders thought “there must be a better way to keep students safe and aware.”

The founders combined their backgrounds in web and mobile technology to introduce the world’s first campus emergency notification system in 2004. According to the website, it was “the first time schools were empowered to quickly send emergency alerts to students via their mobile phones, email and web from a single intuitive interface.” 

“I enrolled in my freshman year, and remember receiving a text alert about a man on campus with a machete…I was glad to know that,” Aidan Daughenbaugh, sophomore psychology major, said. “I definitely feel safe and informed.”