The series of AU Alerts sent out Nov. 6 marked a catastrophic failure of Auburn’s security system. News of an active shooter struck fear across campus, to an extent likely unseen in years. Students cleared out of dining halls, hid in classrooms and reckoned with the fact that they and their peers’ lives might be in peril.
Parents and guardians, who also receive alerts, were forced, if only briefly, to face their worst nightmare — that their loved one may fall victim to the kind of violence they’ve to this point seen only on T.V.
Worse, some students were sent alerts over an hour after they were first released. Had a genuine threat been present, these individuals could have easily been hurt or killed without ever knowing they were in danger.
Furthermore, if one of the three warnings had been real, there would have been no reliable way to determine which was so. False alarms of “hazardous material” could have sent evacuating students into the crosshairs of an active shooter. Moreover, the sheer absurdity of a coinciding tornado warning, active shooter alert and hazardous material release may have driven students to inaction, putting them at obvious risk.
Hazardous materials AU Alert sent out Nov. 6, 2025
Last week’s events will no doubt arouse distrust in students over future alerts. Why believe in a system capable of such a critical error?
Considering Auburn’s standing as a first-rate university, as well as nationwide efforts to increase readiness for school shootings, this debacle is unacceptable. Beyond sowing needless fright and chaos, it revealed how unprepared Auburn is to deal with a real incident — and this may be enough to provoke a deranged individual to attack campus.
After all, they need only the slightest assurance that they can act without consequence or, at the very least, that they can inflict sufficient damage. They now have exactly that.
Perhaps the most dangerous consequence of the security glitch was the opening it left for an immediate attack. Imagine if a real threat emerged on campus, leading to another AU Alert after the University announced there was no danger. Students and faculty would have likely viewed it as a delayed result of the initial error and continued normal on-campus activities.
Active shooter AU Alert sent out Nov. 6, 2025
Under these circumstances, a shooter could have wreaked inestimable havoc on Auburn before meeting opposition. The ensuing damage could have very well been unprecedented compared to even the most horrific instances of campus violence. If the University wants to maintain its image as a safe institution for all its members, it must enact swift and dramatic change.
The first step in doing so is to acknowledge the gravity of its mistake — a seemingly simple task which the administration has already failed to realize in its official statement on the incident. Written on behalf of the University by Kevin Roberts, vice president of institutional compliance and security, it reads:
“Auburn University experienced a technical issue with our mass messaging system earlier today. A technical error triggered templated AU Alerts to be sent. This issue was identified and is in the process of being resolved. We understand the concern this caused and want to assure the Auburn University community that timely and accurate communication remains our highest priority on all matters related to campus safety.”
Blaming the matter on an unspecified “technical issue” is almost offensively vague to students who, hours earlier, were sent into an all-out panic. The University likely has security reasons for keeping the issue private, but a clearer explanation is warranted regardless.
Even more offensive is the statement’s acknowledgement of the community, which omits anything that can be interpreted as an apology. If the University truly understood the concern the incident caused, it would understand that students want clarity in the aftermath of such events, not more uncertainty. It would understand that, after such an enormous mistake, it has the responsibility to reassure students of its competence or, if nothing else, to take some form of ownership.
Now that the opportunity for a proper explanation and apology has passed, the University must make meaningful improvements to its AU Alert system, which already faced scrutiny this year for reporting a heavy police presence at RBD Library with little context.
Last week’s alerts were unclear, failing to provide a location for either the hazardous material or the active shooter. In a real scenario, especially the latter, this information is crucial, as it tells students whether they should run or hide.
Of course, the released alerts were only templates, so it is possible that, if there were a real threat, more details would be provided. The University should nonetheless consider this issue in the future. Something as serious as an active shooting requires prompt action, and Auburn should be ready to issue a thorough response.
The University ultimately avoided disaster. However, under different circumstances, a similar security failure could have led to the unnecessary loss of life. Auburn is obligated, therefore, to take accountability for its misstep and ensure nothing like it happens again. Any halfhearted attempts to do so should not be tolerated.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
The editorial board for fall 2025 consists of: Emma Miller, Rachel Swan, Brychelle Brooks, Ally Northridge, Ella Walton, Luca Flores, Sam Bainter, Jennifer Santiago, Amanda Machamer, Estela Muñoz, Jackie Dominguez, Reid Farris, Rory Garvin, Mia Stamey, Landi Rutlidge and Chase Morgese
