This post was written by Hatchet reporter Brianna Gurciullo.

The University rolled out the second phase of its one-month-old text alert system this week, syncing the online portal to allow users to update their contact information and receive messages regarding ongoing campus threats.

Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell said he expects the database, with 35,000 e-mail addresses and 8,000 cell phone numbers, to grow as more community members use the system.

The University launched the alert system on Nov. 4 after facing criticism for its lagging response to two near-campus arrests following a still unconnected shooting in Georgetown Oct. 31. That system automatically enrolled existing contact information posted on Banner.

Darnell said the alert system “is more reliable, faster and we have two methods of notifying people: via text alert or via e-mail.”