Entire UB campus was quickly alerted

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - The entire campus quickly got the alert through the UB website, e-mails or text messages.

Many students who receive text messaging received that message almost immediately when the campus sent it out at about 4:40 p.m. But those students who signed up for the e-mail alerts didn't receive that e-mail until almost an hour later. Regardless, most people knew what was going on at North Campus.

Within minutes of the incident being reported, UB's North Campus was buzzing with activity. Students were out trying to get a glimpse of what was going on at Lockwood Library.

Many knew the building was closed already due to a campus-wide alert that went out at 4:40 in the afternoon.

UB student Laura Straub said, "Some of our classmates received text messages alarming them of what had happened and things like that from their parents. They had heard things on the radio and on the news."

Laura and Josh were in class in the building next to Lockwood. Jay Shah was working in the Student Union and received the e-mail from Public Safety.

"It just said that classes are canceled and stuff," said Shah.

That e-mail said that Lockwood Library was evacuated and that classes were canceled for the evening. It warned students to stay away from campus until further notice, but didn't explain why. It didn't really matter though. Thanks to cell phones and social media sites many already knew what was going on.

UB Spectrum Managing Editor Matt Mosher said, "We're checking Twitter for story ideas and story updates and all of a sudden Steve, our Editor in Chief, saw Lockwood being evacuated."

So in the end it turns out that there's likely no gunman on campus, but it did give the university the chance to use its campus-wide alert system for students. And they're hoping that this may prompt more students to sign up for it in the future.