Posted Friday, December 12, 2008 --- 10:05 p.m.

An emergency test reveals UW Police now have it figured out after a system that could save lives was failing for too many people.

But they are facing a different challenge.

Instant information in the palm of your hand is a pretty valuable tool but it doesn't do much good if the message isn't getting through and the message can't get through if the students don't sign up.

It was a frightening day that's leaving a lasting influence. September of 2007, a man tells police he is on the UW Campus with a gun. Buildings are surrounded and entrances are staffed with guards.

UW Madison Police Lieutenant Eric Hollen says, "Those are the ones that we're talking about, those serious ones that can potentially create a life safety issue."

It's one of many events that lead UW Police to launch a text message alert system in May. But it's a system that didn't perform well when it was tested. About 4-thousand people, 26-percent of those signed up, never got the message.

Today things are different.

A Thursday test reached almost all of the more than 15-thousand people now signed up to receive the emergency messages. Only 300 reported not getting it on time.

Hollen says, "The advantage, most people carry their cell phone with them all the time and so if they're in between radios or in between computers..."

Now the biggest challenge for police may be getting a student body to buy into the system.

UW Junior Nate Goldstein says, "I just am not worried about it too much. I figure I could do without the extra text messages on my phone and just really don't care enough to sign up."

Police say the texts are only used in the most serious emergencies and are only one of many ways for students to get information including voice mail, Facebook and email.

But they do urge everyone on campus to sign up, faculty included, and that can be done on the my UW or safe U websites.