College Safety is a Hoax

The recent tragedy in Virginia reminds me of my own years at the University of Missouri-Rolla. I remember once during a city-wide power outtage that lasted over 18 hours, professors refused to cancel classes. Especially disturbing during this power outtage was the fact that professors did not want to cancel classes in the Chemistry building, even though it was stated as unsafe to enter without ventilation due to the chemical stores. So, we were forced to sit in whatever classrooms had windows and try to make out the scribbling of the professor on the chalkboard and/or take tests/quizzes that day.

With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to me at how poorly UMR handled the recent bomb/anthrax scare. It also appears that the same mentality was at work at Virginia when officials failed to realize the magnitude of the threat when a double homicide was discovered in a dorm room. We all are now seeing the dire consequences of this arrogance.

Here's more about the recent bomb & anthrax threat on the campus of my alma mater. Campus was not shut down immediately. Students could freely roam for hours, unaware of the potential danger. The fact that the bomb threat was literally yards away from a nuclear reactor seemed to be overlooked by campus officials.

Here's an interesting link to a forum frequented by on-campus students:
http://r01ajrhc8.desktop.umr.edu:8080/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18133&highlight=bomb

I'll just quote the first post:

Newschannel 5 has been talking about a standoff in butler carlton that has been going on since 2 am and now classes are cancelled until 10.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=113598

That was posted at 8:51 a.m. The standoff began at 2:00 a.m. Obviously someone on campus must have known about it by then, so why in the hell would they only temporarily cancel classes until 10:00?

Here's another good post from a student:

Right now the people out there are doing a decontamination process and they can't tell me anything else. They said nobody was allowed in the civil building and probably not the physics building either and they had no idea how long it was going to take. Interesting side note they think we're having classes.

Sounds like some bulletproof security if a student was allowed to wander into the 'decontamination zone' and then return home.

Here's some more good quotes, showing just how poorly UMR's campus was handling things:
Ongoing investigation... bomb team searching the building... sending in a robot later... Basically, they have yet to announce when we'll have class. I need to know, because I have a test scheduled for 11.

I need to know when we'll have classes because I live 30 minutes away. I'm not going to drive up to rolla for shits and giggles.

And, my favorite one. Looks like some professors never change:

ha! My arsehole Chem3 professor wants us to come in a few minutes before 10:30 so that we can take a quiz...

http://www.collegehumor.com/picture:1745016

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/02/stories/2007040210630400.htm

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Apr/20070411News033.asp