Spring Break
Students not warned of SLC bomb threat
Cops approach incident carefully
CAROLYN CRIST
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
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"Since Virginia Tech, I think we should have been forewarned that it was just a threat and sent another e-mail that nothing was found," said Susan Bell, a sophomore from Athens.
Vice President for Public Affairs Tom Jackson told The Red & Black the incident was not reported to students because it was isolated and not an imminent threat.
"Everyone who was involved had been notified, and the situation was being handled," Jackson said. "If something had been found, of course we would have sent an advisory."
Bomb threats usually were not reported to the community in the past because they spawn copy cat incidents, he said.
The University tested in September UGA Alert, an emergency notification system that sends out text messages, e-mails and calls to its registered users when triggered by administrators. The system was not used Monday.
"We only want to use UGA Alert when there is an incident that can't be contained and everyone needs to take action," University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said. "If we used it for everything, people would not pay as close attention. The system is effective when it causes you to hit a level and take it seriously."
Williamson said Breon Releford, a senior from Conyers, was walking into the Lumpkin side of the building when a male student told him there was a bomb inside. Releford told SLC security who called University Police at 8:10 a.m.
Police described the person who stated there was a bomb in the building as a man between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, with shoulder-length blond hair and wearing a red shirt and jeans at the time.
"If anyone knows him or had a class where there was a test or paper due, please let us know," he said. "This person unnecessarily caused fears and concerns when society already is troubled."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ron H
posted 10/23/07 @ 3:36 PM EST
What the Chief said is correct and makes since. Why create a larger incident out of just a verbal threat? UGA receieves bomb threats more often than the paper knows about. (Continued…)
Tom Cruise
posted 10/23/07 @ 3:55 PM EST
How is an email or a text message going to make you any more safe??? The police blocked off the building so there was no danger of anyone going inside, I see no reason to scare the whole campus??? This article is retarded. (Continued…)
Kate
posted 10/23/07 @ 8:23 PM EST
So much for signing up for UGA alert. I thought the point of it was to warn students about this sort of thing. No wonder more people didn't sign up.
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