We are all aware about our campus Safety Alerts, right? You can sign up for alerts regarding incidents that occur on campus by sending a message to 888777 from your mobile phone. Although we may be signed up for them, are we being sent any?

Safety Alerts should be sent out at least within the same hour of the incident. Alerts being sent out hours later can affect students.

Not being aware that an incident has occurred can put the student at risk.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, a female student was approached by an unknown male who exposed himself to her.

The incident occurred in the college library at 2:35 pm. Students were alerted about the incident at 6:42 later that day.

The time frame between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. is lengthy. There are plenty of students on campus between those times.

Many of those students go to the college library to get work done, or hang out. I was on campus during that time frame and was not aware of what happened.

Also, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, a female observed a male overlook the bathroom stall in the women’s restroom.

This incident occurred on the first floor of the Multi-Purpose Building at 5 p.m. Again, students were alerted later at 12:20 a.m.

There are plenty of night classes happening on campus around 5 p.m. Restroom facilities are definitely a main place were students go in between classes.

Although it is where many students go, at that time of hour they can be empty. Students should have been aware of the incident to avoid that particular restroom.

Knowing that there are plenty of students on campus during the time frame of an incident should be a motive to send the alerts out as soon as possible.

The purpose of these alerts are to keep us students safe, but how can we remain safe when we are not being alerted on time?

These alerts are extremely helpful, but receiving them hours later after the incident isn’t as useful as it should be.