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<p>Well that is true for any school. It could happen anywhere. There is nothing unique about Pitt that makes it more conducive to anonymous emailed bomb threats than anywhere else. The last time something happened like this was, I believe, Rutgers in the 1970s when they had over 100 bomb threats.</p>
<p>Investigators seem to be closing in [according</a> to this news report.](<a href=“CBS Pittsburgh - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & KDKA Investigations”>CBS Pittsburgh - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & KDKA Investigations)</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. I sure hope they are close. The company in NY was quoted some place saying they couldn’t trace it and if they could they wouldn’t. Sounds as though the tune has changed.</p>
<p>Thanks to many who have posted your experiences. If I may, I would like to focus a little on how to deal with the madness. Even though some have exhibited high spirits, the fact is, life has been inconvenienced as a result.
The way I see it, the only logical reason Pitt issues mandatory evacuation religiously is they place their own job security and liability above the interests of students, faculty, and everyone impacted. If they follow common sense, they should just send alerts as FYI and conduct search while instructions are still allowed to take place.
Why?
–If there is bomb already in place at target facilities, evacuation, which funnels a crowd of human targets, will only help amplify the potential casualty.
–If bomb is planted and detonated after ENS alerts, under the watch of SWAT team, then we may as well resign to the fact that civil society is not capable of dealing with the terrorists. They can strike anytime, anywhere they wish, at Pitt or anywhere else.
–If there’s no bomb at all except for the vicious mind, evacuation and disruption of normal life plays to the hands of terrorists.
Then there is bag check and long lines as a result. I wonder if Pitt police truly believe in the effectiveness of that security measure. If they do, why do they still issue evacuation? If they don’t, common sense says stop what’s broken.
Madness aside, can common sense prevail???</p>
<p>Pitt is required to do certain things under the Clery Act, and is also working with the Joint Terrorism Task force, so I’m sure they are getting plenty of recommendations of people that are actually in the field.</p>
<p>At least they are clearing buildings pretty quickly now, and based on other reports, they seem to be determining that some threats that are definitively not credible.</p>
<p>I’m in complete agreement with class2011. Clery requires timely notification and doesn’t require evacuations of buildings. In fact, I’m not sure why ENS messages regarding threats on certain dorms are sent to the entire community. If you are a resident of the threatened dorm, then yes, you should receive a notice at whatever crazy time the threat is made. If you aren’t a resident of that dorm, you shouldn’t receive the ENS. Also, if there is security in place, there is no need to order the evacuation of buildings. They should know what’s in the building. The administration is just feeding the beast. If they stop the standing policy of always evacuating, most likely the threats will stop too. If they feel threats aren’t credible and are able to clear buildings quickly,then they never should have evacuated them to begin with.</p>
<p>I work in a secure building with people who are “actually in the field.” We don’t evacuate for threats or suspicious packages.</p>
<p>I am the mother of a Pitt grad student, and I’ve been aware of the bomb threats from the start.</p>
<p>First, I want to say that Pitt MUST evacuate all targeted buildings and send EMS alerts to the entire community as a precaution. Could you imagine if these hoax bomb threats resulted in even one explosion? I’m quite sure Pitt would be found negligent if they stopped taking the threats seriously.</p>
<p>Next, the EMS system needs to be campus-wide because the university cannot be certain who is where at any given time. Also, neighboring buildings could be affected. My daughter’s lab overlooks the Western Psychiatric Clinic, and when she and the others in the lab received the lock-down message following the shooting, they immediately followed the instructions. They discovered only later that the two buildings are connected by the parking garage. Although you can say that the shooting is a different situation, the authorities cannot be certain of safety until a building is cleared. If my child were in one of those targeted buildings, I would be livid if they let her stay in the building. Just because there are many threats, it doesn’t mean that the university should lower its safety standards. Each threat should be treated separately and with equal weight, no matter how many similar threats precede it.</p>
<p>Yes, my daughter is both rattled and exhausted by the threats – and she lives off-campus. But she is adapting precisely because the university, the FBI, and the police take each threat seriously enough to ensure that the students and staff are safe. She would be an emotional mess if she knew bomb threats were continuing but not where and when.</p>
<p>I applaud the Pitt community for supporting one another and for showing strength in the face of terroristic threats. I just hope they catch the person responsible.</p>
<p>It would be irresponsible not to clear the buildings in case an actual threat exists, even if it happens just once. I would be more scared for my son if they didn’t clear everytime because this nutjob could get frustrated if they didn’t clear them and do something potentially much worse. I’m also guesisng that law enforcement is advising them to continue as is, perhaps as part of an identification and capture strategy. In the end, they’ll catch this perp,send him/her to prison hopefully forever, and the kids will see this as character building and bonding.</p>
<p>As the mom of a freshman student, I have been aware of all of the bomb threats from the beginning. When they began to increase in number and frequency in early April, my anxiety also increased in lock step. But my feeling of anxiety has been replaced by the pride I have in the unwavering sense of community demonstrated by the Pitt students. Their response to get through this has been inspiring - they are to be commended for their sprit, determination, and their will to carry on! The University is in a difficult position, yet they too have responded thoughtfully and are demonstrating solid support for their students. Several times I have heard that the Chancellor and Dean of Students have been out to visit with dorm residents during evacuations - even during the middle of the night. </p>
<p>For those of you who want to know more details about what is happening, perhaps in order to make a decision about which college you will attend in the coming fall - I want to share the following with you.</p>
<p>The Pitt campus community is proud of their school, celebrating its 225th anniversary, and are determined to carry on - as demonstrated in this recent article from the Pitt News:
[Kozlowski:</a> Bomb threats can’t diminish school spirit | The Pitt News](<a href=“http://pittnews.com/newsstory/kozlowski-bomb-threats-cant-diminish-school-spirit/]Kozlowski:”>Kozlowski: Bomb threats can't diminish school spirit - The Pitt News)</p>
<p>The Pitt community reaches beyond campus boundaries to provide links for information and a place to share stories about this extraordinary experience, as demonstrated in this independent blog set up by a Pitt graduate.
[url=<a href=“http://upittstories.blogspot.com/]Pittstories[/url”>http://upittstories.blogspot.com/]Pittstories[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Personally, I am so very proud of the Pitt community of students - they are handling this with the grace and strength of their namesake mascot - may the Panther spirit continue to inspire them. Hail to Pitt!</p>
<p>momwaitingfornew - Well, we can agree that we disagree. As a nation, we don’t negotiate with terrorists. If the Government receives CREDIBLE threats, they are investigated and people are informed. If we are to be extra vigilant, the terror alert level is raised. That being said, we don’t run around like chickens with our heads cut off every time someone threatens our country, our government buildings or our soldiers. </p>
<p>This is no different, except that Pitt is making students run around like chickens with their heads cut off when there is no credible threat.</p>
<p>As the “security experts” say - bombers rarely threaten and theateners rarely bomb. So if Pitt has information of CREDIBLE threats, then they should clear buildings. Otherwise, use shelter in place. I have no problem with them checking a building where a threat was made. That’s responsible. However, evacuating buildings every time when they know the threats aren’t credible is ridiculous. Even Rutgers learned that lesson back in the 70s when they had over 100 threats. At some point they realized that maybe they shouldn’t evacuate the buidings. Guess what? The threats stopped.</p>
<p>Regarding ENS to the entire community - why would a student living off-campus need to receive an ENS at 4:00 am about Towers (or any other dorm) being evacauted? They don’t live there. In fact, they can’t be in the dorms unless they are with someone who lives there. So stop waking EVERYONE up if the threats aren’t directed at the dorm in which they live.</p>
<p>I agree with pittsmom. If this continues, then the evacuations must stop, but they should still do security sweeps. There has never been ANY evidence of explosives.</p>
<p>In regard to ENS alerts…cell phones do have on/off controls that can be activated. Then no one is awakened in the night. Hmmmmm.</p>
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<p>Or you know, you can just take your phone OFF of the ENS alert…since it isn’t mandatory. You can pick to only get calls, or texts, or just an email. There’s nothing REQUIRING you to be on ENS.</p>
<p>Also, as much as I understand the parents who are frustrated by the evacuations, I’d like to say that as students, we are frustrated, possibly upset, but in no means would we want Pitt to not do their full duty to the students, faculty and staff of the university in keeping us safe. Like many have said, Pitt takes every threat seriously, and that means an evacuation each time. Lately, they have gotten much faster at clearing buildings, which are happening in 40 minutes to 90 minutes now, instead of 4-5 hours.</p>
<p>The biggest reason Pitt does the sweeps is that they would be sued up their butt if they were to not sweep, and an explosive were to detonate. Even though nothing has been found yet doesn’t mean that Pitt should casually stop responding to every threat as a viable one.</p>
<p>The other issue is for every person who thinks they shouldn’t evacuate there is at least one that thinks they should. In that case, you essentially have to go with the most cautious approach.</p>
<p>A break in the case!</p>
<p>[Pitt</a> withdraws reward in bomb threats case after receiving anonymous email | The Pitt News](<a href=“http://pittnews.com/newsstory/pitt-withdraws-reward-after-receiving-anonymous-email/]Pitt”>http://pittnews.com/newsstory/pitt-withdraws-reward-after-receiving-anonymous-email/)</p>
<p>Update - Pitt News received anonymous email from person(s) claiming responsibility for threats stating that all threats will cease.</p>
<p>Also, new protocol for exam week: There won’t be evacuations for every threat received.</p>
<p><a href=“http://web106.cssd.pitt.edu/provost-statement.pdf[/url]”>http://web106.cssd.pitt.edu/provost-statement.pdf</a></p>
<p>Here’s a Post-Gazette Article about the cease of the bomb threats. I am face-palming SO HARD at these “Threateners” right now. “This is America!” Please.</p>
<p>[Threats</a> finished at Pitt, email claims - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](<a href=“http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/threats-finished-at-pitt-email-claims-632695/?p=1]Threats”>http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/threats-finished-at-pitt-email-claims-632695/?p=1)</p>
<p>My ds just copied me on email from engineering advising that even though they have had a less than harmonious semester, UHC scholarships are still being held to the 3.0 gpa requirement - which seems to be difficult to hold onto in engineering (unless you are Awesome of course) - grrrrr.</p>
<p>I’m happy for all you Pitt guys now that the craziness seems to be over.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, you can bet that the powers that be are working hard to identity who was behind those threats. Sooner or later, they’re gonna figure it out, and that will be a great day at Pitt!</p>