<p>So- this has not really hit the national news, so I thought I'd post info for those parents who are planning visits to Pitt, you may not be aware that in the last several weeks there have been a rash of bomb threats. I wanted to alert you and you might want to consider postponing your visits until things get back to normal. My D who is a freshman at Pitt has just texted me that more bomb threats were received today, and her classes are cancelled. In the past week, some students had to be evacuated from their dorms in the middle of the night due to bomb threats. The University is taking this threats seriously, which they should, but it seems to now be created a sense of disorder among the students. My D said there is talk that if this continues, Pitt might cancel the remainder of the semester. Read more here </p>
<p>This is actually National News. Our son is a sophomore there and the threats come on my text via the cell and home phone because I guess that was the phone he applied to Pitt with. It is very nerving wracking!</p>
<p>REUTERS wire picked it up yesterday as did CBS.</p>
<p>My son is freshman as well and this is so unnerving and frustrating! Floor meetings were recently held in the dorms to up date students on what’s happened thus far, being prepared for immediate evacuations, and the possibility of ending the semester early. I just pray nothing happens and everyone remains safe, and the parties behind this are caught soon!</p>
<p>Interesting information:
Do a search on “stopthepittbombthreats” to read a blogspot compiling information about the timing and location of the threats.</p>
<p>I find it curious that after the university sent an email to parents on Friday, 3/30, which outlined measures being taken to find the culprit, the threats have increased. It’s like he is thumbing his nose at the law enforcement, saying, “You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” Then on Tuesday, when the university increased the reward from $10,000 to $50,000, another bomb threat was issued an hour later.</p>
<p>He’s in a power struggle with the university. When they up the ante, so does he. On Wednesday when my daughter told me about the threat in the morning, I told her the threats would now start to overlap, because he needed to intensify the situation. I was half right. The next threat involved three buildings at the same time.</p>
<p>I was on campus yesterday and noticed quite a few classes being held outdoors - fortunately it was a lovely day. It is really becoming disruptive.</p>
<p>We visited campus yesterday and today, despite bomb threats DS had a very good visit. He was able to sit in on two classes Thursday (afternoon and night including one in the Cathedral of Learning after it was evacuated earlier in the day).</p>
<p>The tours (general and engineering) went off today without a hitch. Spoke with a lot of students, all were tired of the bomb threats, some where heavily effected and some not at all. In an elevator ride at the Cathedral overheard two professors taking about changing their finals to on-line exams. That was our first hint that anything out of the ordinary was going on.</p>
<p>The police did seem to be out in force, but as I said son had great visit and Pitt remains on his list of schools to apply to while another school in Pittsburgh fell off the list. The students and staff were all very friendly and most seemed happy. Only change to the tours where we could not visit a dorm room due to the bomb threats.</p>
<p>Thanks for the updates on this thread. We have a visit planned for Tuesday. I’m keeping it fluid though. D is not keen on visiting Pitt at the moment and I want her to see it in the best possible light.</p>
<p>As a student at the University I’d like to reach out to anyone who is looking at Pitt as a potential student and to the parents of those students and say that, while this string of events is extremely disruptive, I would hope that it doesn’t reflect poorly upon such a great school. The administration, the Pitt Police, and the Pittsburgh police force along with other agencies have been working tirelessly to bring the threats to an end, working at what seems like all hours of the night. It’s incredibly frustrating to have classes cancelled time after time (some classes are far enough behind that they’re scheduling Saturday make-ups and some professors are talking about administering finals in a take-home format) but I think we all take comfort in knowing that it’s clear that the University is making its students’ safety their top priority.</p>
<p>Evacuations have occurred in all of the buildings reported with threats and have been very calm and orderly. The Chancellor issued a statement today reiterating the fact that while no evidence of explosives has been found in any of their investigations, in addition to a promise by the University to try and help students finish out the semester in another way should they feel that their safety is at risk and want to return home. I think we’re all very upset about the fact that this is happening to our home but the campus community has banded together and is staying strong and resilient; with the recent evacuation of dorm buildings, students who live off-campus have been offering up couches and any extra space to those who have been evacuated from their rooms.</p>
<p>I have had a wonderful four years at Pitt and would hate to see its reputation tarnished by these events. I understand the sentiment of feeling worried about these threats as they are at times very alarming, but I wanted to stress that Pittsburgh is a safe city with a wonderful University whose true colors are really shining through in light of these events. Hail to Pitt.</p>
<p>Thanks Emily83190. I’ve heard all good things about Pitt. That’s exactly why we may not visit during this time, with the bomb threats. If my D hears about it, it may predispose her to not liking the school or to feeling unsafe about it. I’d rather her see it when there is as much positivity around it as possible. :-)</p>
<p>I really don’t think these bomb threats will affect anyone’s visit at this time. Delay a visit if you want, but please don’t cancel a visit or cross Pitt off your list. There is no evidence of any bomb(s), only a prankster who is on a power trip.</p>