By Tim Wetzel
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee State University is hiring private weather company Accuweather to watch the campus for severe weather.
The university is spending at least $10,000 a year to notify students about bad storms, heavy snow or other inclement weather.
"We have a history in the past few years of having tornados come through our county or close to campus," said MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster. "We know that and recognize it's an ongoing trend."
The University currently relies on the National Weather Service for severe weather forecasts, but officials said the private company will be better at providing more specific alerts for campus.
"The alerts will be relevant, they will be timely and they will be accurate," said Peaster.
Students said having a private weatherman for campus is a good idea.
"It's nice to be informed of the weather and know what's going on," said MTSU senior Joe Moran.
Accuweather will start monitoring weather on campus this October. MTSU said Vanderbilt University subscribes to a similar service.
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