Homewood emergency alert system to be tested on Tuesday

Homewood Campus Safety and Security will conduct a test of the Hopkins Siren/Public Address System and the Johns Hopkins Emergency Alerts Text Messaging System at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Because the system incorporates a silent self-test feature that exercises each module weekly, "live" tests will be conducted only three times a year. The main purpose of the exercise is to familiarize the Homewood community with the sound of the system.

The system, activated by radio signal from the Homewood Communications Center, is composed of modules on Garland Hall, Whitehead Hall and the O'Connor Recreation Center. The sirens will simultaneously sound the alert tone and then sequentially broadcast the voice message.

The test will be a full-scale simultaneous activation of both systems. There will be an alert tone immediately followed by a voice broadcast announcing, "This is a test of the Homewood campus emergency warning system." Those who have subscribed to the text-message alert system will receive a message that reads, "This is a test of the Homewood Johns Hopkins Emergency Alerts text message system. There is no emergency at this time."

Shortly after this broadcast, an all-clear alert tone will sound, followed by the message saying, in part, "This has been a test of the Homewood campus emergency warning system. Had there been an actual emergency, you would have been given specific instructions on what to do."

Except for these periodic tests, the system will be used only in the event of a situation that presents a significant threat to the lives or safety of the campus community.

 

Blood drive commemorates contributions of Charles Drew

This week's Homewood campus blood drive, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10 and 11, in the Glass Pavilion, commemorates the work of Charles Drew, the pioneering African-American physician who invented modern blood storage techniques, saved countless lives on the battlefield, fought the practice of excluding the blood of blacks from plasma-supply networks and ran the country's first blood bank. Donations are urgently needed at this drive, particularly those of type O blood.

To address a modern issue — the need for diversity in the bone marrow donor pool — a representative from Hematopoietic and Therapeutic Support Service will be on site to register potential bone marrow donors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Information on registering to become a marrow donor can be found at www.bmdp.org. A blood donation is not necessary to register as a bone marrow donor.

To schedule online an appointment to give blood, go to www.jhu.edu/outreach/blooddrive or contact John Black in the Office of Faculty, Staff and Retiree Programs, which sponsors the drives, at jblack1@jhu.edu or 410-516-0138.

 

New Play Festival to showcase original works by JHU students

The second annual Johns Hopkins University Theatre New Play Festival, a showcase for original works by JHU students, will be held Feb. 13 to 15 in the Merrick Barn on the Homewood campus. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $3 to $5. For reservations and more information, call 410-516-5153, e-mail JHUT@jhu.edu or go to www.jhu.edu/theatre-arts.

 

Junior Jays, kids club of Johns Hopkins lacrosse, returns

On your way over to Homewood's Athletic Center to pick up your complimentary lacrosse tickets? Don't forget your kids. The Junior Jays, the official kids club of Johns Hopkins lacrosse, returns in 2009 for its seventh season. All Junior Jays receive a club T-shirt, tickets to all regular season men's lacrosse home games, schedule cards, magnets, posters, an official ID card and more.

Registration forms are available in the Athletic Center or can be downloaded in advance at www.HopkinsSports.com.

Complimentary tickets for faculty and staff are available this week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Friday, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

 

Architects named for MSEL's Brody Learning Commons

Shepley Bullfinch Richardson and Abbott, the Boston architectural firm that designed Homewood's Mason Hall and other parts of the South Quandrangle Development project, have been selected to design the Brody Learning Commons, an expansion of the MSE Library that was announced in December. University officials hope to complete the project by 2012.

 

2009 Homewood Student Video Competition begins

Want to show off your Johns Hopkins? All full-time undergraduate and graduate students in Engineering or Arts and Sciences are eligible to submit by March 25 a short video for the Homewood Student Video Competition. Details are available online at: www.jhu.edu/video-competition/09.

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