Allison Oster
Public Relations Manager
(626) 815-4518
APU to Test New Public Address System
May 14, 2008
AZUSA, Calif. –
On Wed., May 21, at approximately 3 p.m., Azusa Pacific University will test a new emergency public address (PA) system on its East Campus. During the test, a siren and announcement will be audible to some of APU’s neighboring homes and businesses, in addition to the campus community. This demonstration allows APU to test the system’s capabilities and range.
For people who live or work in the areas adjacent to campus, the university apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
“This is just one of several communication methods the university plans to use during an emergency to help notify, update, and provide directions to the campus community,” said Jeff Birch, chair of APU’s Incident Command Team.
In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy and the devastating tornado at Union University, college and university campuses must reevaluate and improve safety measures. The public address system extends Azusa Pacific’s efforts to enhance the university’s emergency preparedness. Installation is expected by fall 2008.
In addition to the PA system, APU has purchased a $150,000 comprehensive notification system, 3n’s InstaCOM Campus Alert, which will allow the university to quickly and efficiently inform the APU community of emergency situations via email, text messaging, and voicemail. The university expects to implement this new system by fall.
Visit www.apu.edu/response for more information on APU's emergency preparedness.
Featured in TIME magazine and ranked as one of the nation’s best by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review, Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university, committed to God First and known for excellence in higher education. Azusa Pacific’s main campus lies just 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, while its seven Southern California regional centers bring convenience and extend quality programming. The university offers more than 50 areas of undergraduate study, 23 master's degrees, and 7 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100.
