University of Texas, through twitter

First of all, I'd like to send out my prayers to everyone at University of Texas and say how amazing it is that no one but the shooter was hurt. For those of you who haven't heard (because no one I have talked to seems to have any idea . . ??), just after 8am this morning a man with a gun fired shots into the air and then ran inside the UT library. Campus was put on lockdown and several emergency messages were sent out to students. The gunman shot himself in the library and died. For a long time, this was the extent of the knowledge about the event, and when I walked into the Underground around 11am, that was all CNN was saying. Because of varying reports about the gunman's description, there was an extensive search for a second suspect, but the UT police, SWAT teams, and ACP have finally announced the all clear and are opening parts of campus back up one by one.

Now, what does this have to do with this blog, twitter, or class in general? Well, as I sat in the underground and received little information on what was happening, I decided to get on Twitter and see what people were saying. It was amazing. The amount of information (though clouded by well meaning people sending their concerns and prayers) was incredible. Students locked in buildings were tweeting and retweeting updates, saying they could hear helicopters, see SWAT teams, or were just generally frightened. I knew exactly which buildings the police were investigating at that moment and even when specific people were being released and evacuated, just because they posted on twitter. Eventually, someone posted a link to a liveblog being updated frequently (which you can now see here and follow the timeline) that was very specific and continues to seem accurate. I followed the general #utshooting hashtag as well as a few specific twitter accounts (UTComm, The Daily Texan, and FoxAustin) and through these sources stayed very up to date as to what was happening on campus. Someone posted a picture of a text message they received from the school and someone else posted a picture of the email sent out to all the students. At one point they suspected a second person to be involved and to be barricaded in Calhoun Hall. Somehow, people inside were able to communicate their position outside the walls of the building and an article showed up online giving details as to the situation inside. I am not sure how that happened but it was incredible to read. There is an great compilation of pictures here. Mostly, I was amazed at the difference in information that CNN was giving (very little) and what I could simply read online, especially through twitter. I have saved a few of the interesting ones here:

• Escorted out by the SWAT team. Was in the Welch Building - so glad to be off campus and out of lockdown. Super scary morning #UTshooting


• #utshooting Police: Students pointed the way for officers following shooter, who killed himself on 6th floor of library http://bit.ly/cYyvSL


• I have to say: thank God for social networking. Twitter and fb were tremendous sources of info and comfort during all of this. #utshooting


• There was a #UTShooting everyone's fine, but still shaken up. I almost left for class early, but got a text about the shooter. Thank God.


• They released us from my class. Eating lunch with friends. God bless UT and the poor guy. #utaustin #utshooting #Texas


• The loudspeaker man clarified a few times. All dorms are open. #UTshooting


• Breaking News: UT RELEASES phone number for info on shooting 866-657-9400. #UT #UTShooter #UTshooting


• News outlets tweeting where SWAT is abt to look 4 2nd. #utshooting STOP he could have smartphone #facepalm


• Despite the all-clear, my sister is still stuck in Belmont. Hoping the evacuation team gets to her soon. #ut #utshooting


• if you hear things about weapons in a car it's b/c a guy in my class has a airsoft gun in his car, they're escorting him out. #utshooting


• #utshooting #utshooter very nice and polite SWAT guy just came through the office


• My advisor was also caught in hall by SWAT, questioned at gun point. Have been emailing with him. Await word on encounter. #utshooting


• Scratch that, police escorting us out of class towards mlk. #UTshooting http://plixi.com/p/47644008


• Kvue news is currently talking to a boy in my class who came in late and saw the gunman outside our classroom. Thank god I wasnt late today


• Guy in my class who encountered the gunman says he was laughing and waved his gun at them. The types of people in this world frighten me.