The Department of Public Safety is considering a text messaging alert system that would warn students of emergency situations.
Toby Peters, associate vice president in the Office of Administration, outlined Marquette's current and planned safety measures in light of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech at Thursday's Marquette Student Government meeting.
Peters said 97 percent of Marquette students use cell phones, and that the alert system would be a quick way of contacting everyone on campus.
Students would register their cell phone numbers with the school through CheckMarq, and would receive an official alert or directions via text message in an emergency.
"We need you, we want you to be safe," Peters said, adding that the university needs student input concerning the proposed text messaging system.
Technology was at the forefront of another issue at the meeting – the launch of the Pick-A-Prof Web site program for Marquette students.
MUSG President Brock Banks, a College of Arts & Sciences junior, announced that students at Marquette can now buy and sell books, review teachers and find out who will be in their classes through Pick-A-Prof.
In addition, MUSG unanimously passed the 2007-'08 budget, which gives more of the student activity fee to MUSG programs and the Student Organization Allocation fund. In the past, more of that money has gone to the administration.
While the total revenue predicted for the 2007-'08 school year is lower than the total revenue from 2006-'07, the proportion of the budget allocated for administrative expenses will be smaller in '08 than it was in '07.
The additional funds will be allocated to program board events, such as movies, speakers and concerts.
All other portions of the budget will remain relatively unchanged.
The Senate also elected students to a number of MUSG positions.
Henry Thomas, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences and McCormick Hall senator, was elected president pro tempore, who would take over the Senate if the current president stepped down.
Thomas competed with Ray Redlingshafer, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, for the position.
The senate also filled several committee member positions by balloted vote.
Kristan and Elizabeth Driscoll, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences and Straz Tower senator, were elected to the Academic Budget Committee.
Jimmy Schott, a College of Business Administration junior and senator, and Giuseppe Pappalardo, a freshman and College of Arts & Sciences senator, were elected to the Student Organization Allocation committee.
