“A Special Edition Zipmail was sent out yesterday. In light of the volume of bomb threats the University of Akron has received so far this semester, anything marked Special Edition gives one pause. It was with great relief that we read that there was no catastrophe.”
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A Special Edition Zipmail was sent out yesterday.

In light of the volume of bomb threats the University of Akron has received so far this semester, anything marked Special Edition gives one pause.

It was with great relief that we read that there was no catastrophe.

Instead, it was relaying time changes for a panel discussion on sexual diversity and a documentary.

We’d like to restate the obvious: The university needs more designations for Zipmail other than Special Edition.

Let’s put this into perspective.

When a building is closed because of a bomb threat and a SWAT team and bomb-sniffing dogs are on campus, that’s worthy of being characterized as Special Edition.

That being said, if a bomb threat warrants Special Edition, little else falls into that category. OK, when the university is closed because of snow and ice, that’s also Special Edition.

But that doesn’t happen too often, so don’t worry about receiving many of those Special Edition Zipmails.

So if serious, urgent news is Special Edition, then it logically follows that time changes for lectures or panel discussions are not.

We’re just spitballing here, but perhaps that kind of news could be labeled For Your Information.

When a blurb is not included in the weekly Zipmail and it is sent out later, that would be another FYI Zipmail.

It’s common sense.

When everything is Special Edition, it loses credibility and importance.

Most students don’t even read Zipmail. And, some lose interest after they anxiously open a Special Edition, anticipating that the sky may be falling.

After a few Special Editions that cry wolf, you learn your lesson.

We implore the powers-that-be at the university to reconsider this system. It does not require a task force or a committee.

You’ll be more effective at communicating with the campus community if you change the designations.

Ironically, now that we’ve used the term Special Edition 12 times in this small space, the sense of urgency it once conveyed has now disappeared.

Now we’re not even going to read them.

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