The text-messaging generation at the University of Hawai'i yesterday was asked to embrace UH's latest idea to improve communications during life-and-death campus emergencies.

UH officials sent e-mails to all 50,000 students in the 10-campus system encouraging them to register for emergency text messages — at the students' expense. But after deadly experiences at two Mainland universities, UH officials expect only 10 percent of the students to sign up.

"I hate to say it, but I guess they don't care enough," said David Lassner, UH's vice president for information technology and chief information officer.

Several students outside UH-Manoa's campus center yesterday said they send and receive text messages every day — even during class — but couldn't be bothered to register for emergency texts, which could cost 10 cents per message or cost nothing with prepaid bulk text plans.

James Small, an economics senior, uses text messages for things like staying informed of friends' parties. But he barely reads his UH e-mails and doesn't expect to register for the texting program.

"No," Small said, "I don't think I would."

UH-Manoa junior Michelle Rose held her cell phone in her hand as she said, "The budget's kind of tight. All things cost extra."

The first test of the system occurred Feb. 20 when a test message was sent to 3,000 faculty and staff who already had registered by giving UH their cell phone numbers. They represent about 25 percent of the UH system's faculty and staff, a ratio that also follows the trend for Mainland universities, Lassner said.

Thirty people did not receive their test texts last week because they probably entered their phone numbers incorrectly, or changed or canceled their phone service, Lassner said.

He promised that faculty, staff and students will only receive two test texts per year. Any other texts would be sent only in emergencies like a gunman wandering the campus, Lassner said.

The first text test for students is scheduled for April, he said.

BAD EXPERIENCE

The texts are limited to 130 characters and are designed to close the information gap experienced in October when a 46-year-old man was arrested in Moili'ili after threatening to shoot 30 UH-Manoa students.

UH officials immediately issued a campuswide e-mail alert after the man was overheard making the threats on a city bus. But students who didn't read their e-mails continued to walk the 330-acre campus unaware of the manhunt.

It's that kind of situation that will get sophomore Chantrelle Waialae to register for the texting plan.

She has unlimited texts with her Mobi cell phone plan, but yesterday had bigger concerns than cost.

"It could save my life," she said.

The $100,000 per year texting program comes as UH officials continue to improve campus security and communications after fatal campus shootings at Northern Illinois University this month and at Virginia Tech last year — and after a series of dormitory crimes at UH-Manoa this school year.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

UH officials also are taking other steps: