The University will begin a task force to focus on water conservation in wake of the recent drought in Athens and enact suggestions from two security study committees.

During a cabinet meeting Thursday, University President Michael Adams said Arnett Mace, University Provost, and Tim Burgess, the senior vice president for finance and administration, will be heading a task force to find ways for the University to further conserve water during the drought.

Adams said he is convinced this is a serious issue.

“It is demanding the cooperation of everyone in the community,” Adams said. “We need to have a plan in place should things become more severe than they are now.”

Adams also said the University will implement the Emergency Prep-aredness and Comm-unications Committee’s suggestion to create a stronger 911 system.

Adams said the University is “in line to replace the phone system in the next two years.”

The current phone system is unable to provide 911 service on a large scale, according to Opal Haley, director of the office of security and emergency preparedness.

The University is also creating a Behavioral Assessment and Response Council, thanks to a suggestion by the committee on Evaluation of Psychological Services Protocols.

This council will create a program to train faculty and staff to cite possible psychological issues in students, according to a news release issued at the meeting.

Adams said he approved other suggestions, including increasing the number of psychologists on campus and increasing police officer pay, according to the release.

But Adams did not approve some of the committees’ suggestions.

According to the release, he did not agree with a proposal to install public address speakers across campus, a plan to make a separate counseling service for minorities and an idea to put two behavioral assessment and response council officials at every campus unit.

Adams said the University needs to have “a comprehensive view of emergency preparedness.” He said while University Police are prepared to handle violence on campus, the most likely threats come from tornadoes, fires and chemical spills.

Adams said Wednesday’s test of the UGA Alert system was successful, but he expressed a desire to have all students, faculty and staff members register for the system.

Burgess reported that of the 11,474 registered for UGA Alert, about 7,300 are students.

“I believe the campus community would be strengthened and people would be better protected if every person in the campus community agreed to participate in this,” Adams said.

Adams said he debated requiring everyone to sign up for UGA Alert but said he decided against it, citing privacy concerns. But he said he reserved the right to reconsider his decision after one year.

President Adams on UGA Alert, Water Conservation, and GameDay Behavior