When everyone's cell phones start ringing at once, they'll know it's something important.

That's because from now on, big warnings at the University of Hawaii will be sent with a text message ring-tone.

The school started thinking about this after the Virginia Tech shootings. It's a new plan to issue security alerts quicker and more effectively.

There are 50,000 students in the UH school system. Emails don't always get to them fast enough so school officials are adding text messaging to their danger alert system.

"No one communication reaches everyone so we really need to use all of them," said David Lassner, VP of Information Technology at UH.

Until now, UH has sent alerts by email. Once, earlier this week, during a stand-off between Maui police and a gunman near the Maui Community College. And another time after a man was heard talking to himself on a city bus about going on a shooting spree.

The suspect was arrested at a nearby park. But if he had been heading to campus, some students said they would never have known until they checked their email.

"I think because we get it way after the fact, we don't take it seriously too often," said student Shauna Coughlan.

By now, students should have gotten an invite from the school to sign up for the new service.

"It would describe the nature of the emergency and it might say go to emergency website and or call 956-0001," said Lassner.

But not all students are on board. Some don't want extra texting charges on their phone. And some worry about their privacy. 

"It sounds like a good idea but I'm hesitant to sign up for it and put my name down and my cell phone out there," said Student Erin Villanueva.

The messages are only for students faculty and staff right now but in the future, parents might also get the option.

The university is also working on installing sirens on campuses, but that won't be for another 6 to 12 months.

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