University of Iowa officials are exploring whether to use social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace as additional tools to send emergency notifications to students.

Spokeswoman Linda Kettner says officials are examining whether the sites could be used in the event of a natural disaster or violent crime. But, she says the school isn't ready to act on the idea just it.

Chuck Green, the university's public safety director, says that for now, the school is sticking with the Hawk Alert, which was launched in the fall of 2007. It allows the university to get messages fairly rapidly to 45,000 faculty, staff and students by a variety of mediums, such as text, cell phone, home phone or e-mail.

Warning towers on campus also send out voice alerts and sound sirens.