Secrets of the City

That explains the horse patrol. I was wonder if it was some kind of pre-emptive deal, or training, or an actual threat.

The horse cops looked really bored and one of the horses was dangerously fussy.

I’m calling in a bomb threat ….

in my pants, baby, yeah!

For every seriously bad thing that happens, there are dozens of opportunists who have to try capitalizing on it for their own personal gain.

What a bunch of shit.

Dangerously Fussy would be a fantastic band name.

This is what happens, when the UMN has a no-conceal+carry policy. If students were allowed to be armed and protect themselves, this event could’ve been prevented. The left doesn’t understand public safety and is incapable of protecting us.

The horse cops on the other hand, I feel safe around them.

What idiot risk’s writing a note when you can leave just about any old object lying around and get the same result, without the illegality.

For example, Backpacks at a Mass. school caused a bomb scare last week.

“If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?“
– Will Rogers

If students were allowed to be armed and protect themselves, this event could’ve been prevented. Yeah. Sure. Like that wouldn’t have turned into an even bigger tragedy with students randomly shooting each other. “Oh, hey, that guy has a gun!” (bang) “He has a gun!” (bang)

Shit happens. Carrying a loaded gun around isn’t going to make shit stop happening, it’ll just help you kill people. I hope every institution of learning has a no concealed weapons policy. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable I would have been in college if I knew the dude next to me could have a gun in his backpack.

“The left doesn’t understand public safety and is incapable of protecting us.”

I’m @ the library all night, but I’ll smack any one who looks suspicious with a big book. They’re Chinese, right?

josie – i was being sarcastic. Surely armed students would not be able to stop a bomb….

Couldn’t agree with you more, josie.

Sorry I missed the sarcasm…but I see red when I see advocation of concealed carry laws. I can’t think of anything more ridiculous then preventing crime by having citizens carrying loaded guns around. That doesn’t stop crime, that just puts more tools to help commit crimes agains others on the streets.

It also makes me forget how to type. Add a “t” on that “agains” up there.

josie – no prob, I agree about the citizen vigilantes. Pro-gun dudes seem to prescribe it as a panacea for all our crime problems though… so I figured I’d try to make a joke. Apparently I failed..

That doesn’t stop crime, that just puts more tools to help commit crimes agains others on the streets.
Prove it.
I’m no advocate, but any careless statement needs to be called out.

Josie, while anyone sitting next to you could have a gun without you knowing, wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if the gun was actually registered and the person carrying it knew how to use it safely, and was carrying it for protection rather than ill-will?

My take is–conceal carry has not affected crime levels one way or the other. I don’t know who has a gun in their coat, so it doesn’t bother me either way.
I don’t really advocate the law, but it doesn’t make sense to rally against it just yet.

First VT, now UMN.

For MNspeak to be comparing this bomb threat story with the Virginia Tech massacre is foolish and disrespectful.

-Aaron
(Currently in Virginia)

No, it wouldn’t make me feel comfortable at all to know the guy sitting next to me had a loaded gun, regardless of how many tests taken and hoops jumped through to get it. I don’t care if s/he’s trained to use it “safely” or not. Let’s not forget guns are primarily used to injure or kill someone or something.

I don’t like guns. I don’t see any need for anyone to be carrying around a loaded gun in public unless they’re a police officer. I’m okay with hunting weapons, but seriously, who needs a freaking semi-automatic handgun? I feel it is a danger to society. I’d also feel uncomfortable if I knew the guy sitting next to me was carrying a knife, or a set of numchucks, or any kind of weapon.

If guns help people commit crimes (which, you know, they do), and if more people are carrying guns, then I don’t feel like that’s a “careless” statement to say that more guns in the hands of the population may in fact equal more violent crime.

It smacks of a ridiculous prank. Whatever idiot is responsible for this note ought to get expelled (if they’re a student) and also spend some time in jail.

I’d say that “First VT, now UMN” made sense because of all the copycat that has been happening. I read it as “first that horrible thing happened, now we got these disrespectful pranksters.”

But… what’s the deal with this?
“The terrorists have invaded our universities, they are eating away at the core of our lifestyles. Obviously they hate freedom and education!”

That really makes no sense. This had nothing to do with terrorists.

Oh, and they should pay restitution for any/all extra expenditures on police, etc. which were necessitated in response to this crap.

So you would be okay sitting next to an armed police officer then?

Or not?

then I don’t feel like that’s a “careless” statement to say that more guns in the hands of the population may in fact equal more violent crime.

But without data to back it up, that is all it is.
Do you know how many unlicensed weapons are on the streets of the USA.? The way I see it, if the guns are out there anyways, I would feel more comfotable knowing that those carrying them are generally not out to use them for unjustified violence.

But… what’s the deal with this?
“The terrorists have invaded our universities, they are eating away at the core of our lifestyles. Obviously they hate freedom and education!”

That really makes no sense. This had nothing to do with terrorists.

When you do an act that ends up inflicting fear across every university and college in the country, I would consider that an act of terrorism.

The scale of what happened at Virginia Tech, though, does not even compare to today’s U of M bomb threat.

Well, the armed police officer isn’t hiding the gun, now, is he?

If s/he’s off duty and/or a federal law enforcement agent, then maybe yes.

Well, I am fond of men in uniform.

Copycat Bomb Threats

Its seems like there are bomb threats all around the country. Pretty lame, but what can you do….

Copycat Bomb Threats

Its seems like there are bomb threats all around the country. Pretty lame, but what can you do….

That’s nice Josie. I have no idea what that has to do with carrying weapons, concealed or otherwise, nor what it implies about your views on women officers or other female gun carriers, but okay…

Wow, ranty is really literal minded in this thread. I guess I deserve it for jumping all over vlad back there, but, um, I was making a joke.

I have nothing but respect for female police officers. I always thought it would be nifty to be a detective, but unfortunately I have no stomach for the horrible things people do to each other.

I understand that the laws of this land allows those who follow the proper procedures to carry a concealed weapon. This does not mean I have to agree with it. And I choose to believe that more guns equal more crime, regardless of where the guns are coming from, or how responsible the gun owner is, because I believe that the possession of a loaded gun makes it much more likely for the person in possession of the gun to fire the gun at someone and hurt them. I do not carry a loaded gun; therefore, it would be very unlikely for me to fire a gun at someone and hurt them.

And – best of all – I completely respect your right to disagree with me!

Yesterday at NDSU a “suspicious duffel bag” was found on campus in a bus shelter which caused several surrounding buildings to be evacuated for the afternoon. It turned out that it was filled with someone’s personal belongings and he had simply forgotten it. I guess it is better to err on the side of caution when it comes to situations such as this.

“When you do an act that ends up inflicting fear across every university and college in the country, I would consider that an act of terrorism.”

But, that’s not the generally accepted definition of “terrorism.” ANY crimeor crime spree can inflict “fear” among a population or segment of population, but lacking an ideological or political goal or motivation, they’re not “terrorism.”

And I choose to believe that more guns equal more crime, regardless of where the guns are coming from, or how responsible the gun owner is, because I believe that the possession of a loaded gun makes it much more likely for the person in possession of the gun to fire the gun at someone and hurt them.

Now what we need is for Mrs. Bill Clinton to say this on camera.

To anyone who thinks its a good idea to arm college kids:

Think back to college…remember drunken frat parties, parking lot keggers, bonfire beer fests – hazy, I know, but try. Would it have given you a cozy, safe feeling to know each of of these alcohol adled, hyper-hormone, child-adults was packing heat? I remember guys using each other for punching bags cause someone looked at someone’s girlfriend “funny”. The idea of a gun in that mix should be enough to give anyone nightmares.

Right now, there should be a new ad slogan for public colleges across the nation these days:

Come to the University of Minnesota or Virginia Tech and get your ass blown off like they do in Fallujah, Iraq.

won’t let me log on for some reason.
anyway,

weren’t there bomb threats at VTech like a month ago? I thought that’s what the comparison was about. it started with a bomb threat.

Think back to college…remember drunken frat parties, parking lot keggers, bonfire beer fests – hazy, I know, but try.

Ok, how about allowing professors to arm themselves if they so desire and pass the tests, etc. At least they’re adults. Well, as much as can be expected in academia anyway.

I’m not sure I’d want to be the known-to-be armed professor in a classroom full of students. What if one of the students was that angry loner on ineffective psychoactive meds who knows I have a gun? What if he’s looking to take that gun and shoot a few people including me. If I turn my back to write on the board, do I shove my gun in my bra or just hold it in one hand while I write with the other? Could I be overpowered and the gun taken from me? Maybe. I’m 5′4″. Often even 13-year-old boys tower over me.

Josie, what did I miss in 3101 today?

I blame people like Mazapsaza for constantly fanning the flames of hate for incidents like this one and the shooting in Virginia.

Hate begets hate and war mongering fascists reap what they sow.

Maybe if we start a war in Iran, this won’t happen again. Evacuating the campus just means the islamofascists win.

WRT conceal & carry, the last thing anyone should try to argue on the “pro-” side is that bizarre argument that criminals will break the law, anyway… since that’s really the definition, anyway…

For real – thank goodness for peaceful souls like raindog who show us all the way toward love and understanding…

P.S to Josie: in reviewing my comments they did seem kind of bitchy.

Apologies for that.

Apparently the bomb threat didn’t stop Girls Gone Wild from targeting college girls at the U today.

weren’t there bomb threats at VTech like a month ago? I thought that’s what the comparison was about. it started with a bomb threat.

That’s what was kind of scary about the whole thing. I knew the VTech stuff started with a bomb threat, so my immediate thought when they told us was “great there’s some really pissed off person on campus and who knows what they could do next.” Then I told myself that it was most likely just a copycat. But still, that first impression was a little frightening.

wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if the gun was actually registered and the person carrying it knew how to use it safely, and was carrying it for protection rather than ill-will?

The guns in the Vtech shooting were legally purchased. There is no way to know that the armed person next to you is going to use it for protection, it is just an assumption, and in this day and age a pretty big one at that.

For other U students here: What time were you notified? They came into our class and told us at about 3:30 (although we were on the West Bank.) The guy told me that the threat was discovered around 1:30 and the official notice went out at 2:58. That lag time was one of the first things I thought of in similarity to the Vtech incident. It made me wonder why they can’t have some sort of PA system in all the classrooms like they do in high school.

Where is this Girls Gone Wild Breast-a-thon goin to happen, uhh and when?

Sounds like a total comedy. Do post any info.

What time were you notified? They came into our class and told us at about 3:30 (although we were on the West Bank.) The guy told me that the threat was discovered around 1:30 and the official notice went out at 2:58. That lag time was one of the first things I thought of in similarity to the Vtech incident. It made me wonder why they can’t have some sort of PA system in all the classrooms like they do in high school.

They do, and they used it in the places that were, you know, closer than a mile to where the threat was.

Sheeesh. There’s no “similarity”. Nothing happened here. They evacuated the threat area in an orderly and very timely fashion, and then let other people know what was going over the next few hours. It wasn’t really the priority… they were still checking the named buildings for bombs while you were sitting in class getting your undies in a bunch cause you couldn’t leave an hour earlier.

Armorer, FWIW, I just got back from a news conference at the campus. The incident was discovered at 12:15pm. They decided to evacuate 8 buildings at 12:45pm (sending a tone alert out to radios–like a weather radio– in the affected buildings). The doors were locked to the buildings remotely at 1:15pm, and cleared by 1:30pm. The U says they sent an e-mail out at 1:15pm, but some students didn’t get it until 2:45pm, because that’s how their system of sending 50,000 e-mails at once works.

They know it’s a problem– but e-mail isn’t the best way of communicating instant information, as many students don’t read/use their official campus e-mail address.

This explains why a security dude was blocking traffice from one of the streets on campus today at about 2:20, I guess. All he’d say is, “you can’t drive that way now.” Because of course I was arguing with him.

they should have a parade announcing these things.

people usually notice parades in an instant.

Jason– I could be wrong, but I think it was your station who had a correspondent talking from campus on the 6pm news, who did a good job of explaining that the email didn’t really need to be “timely” per se. It was a secondary system to inform people of what was going on. The ones who really needed the info got it in other ways much more quickly.

There’s no email system on earth that can send 76,000 (not 50k ) emails in any particularly timely fashion, except a spammer’s remote-controlled network of 76,000 virus-infected computers. heh. There’s just a limit to the width of the pipe, conceptually speaking, and the only way around it is a ten million dollar server farm which would get used once every five years.

Another factor: one of the evacuated buildings (Morril) houses University Relations, aka, the people who are responsible for official communications. Which means they had to spend some time being shuffled out of their buildings, gathering somewhere else with computer access, discussing who needed to know what details, finding out exactly what was going to be closed and what wasn’t and for how long, composing that information, and then starting the process of spewing out those emails. Probably could have been done a little quicker, but again, considering focus was on dealing with the immediate threat at hand via better means (the campus PA/alarm system, etc), not bad.

Not only that, email is just about the slowest electronic means of delivering urgent information. Most people don’t/won’t carry BlackBerrys. An SMS would make much more sense.

(Yes, I believe that is the correct plural of ‘BlackBerry’)

Forgive me for not knowing the specifics of the campus alert system. I did know that there were loudspeakers outside, but I’ve never seen one in an individual classroom, like there is in high schools (which would seem like it might have helped at Vtech, but maybe not). I didn’t talk to anyone else outside of my class after I left, I came home and this site was one of the first I went to. I just wanted to know from other students when they were notified. I’m aware that people in the targeted buildings would have been notified quicker than those of us on the West Bank, but until I got home, I didn’t know, so I thought I’d ask on here.

they were still checking the named buildings for bombs while you were sitting in class getting your undies in a bunch cause you couldn’t leave an hour earlier.

Did I ever say I wanted a reason to get out of class? Fuck you for assuming that.

Champs, very true. I know that’s been suggested to the powers that be in the past, and as usual, things that are only a consideration in an emergency only get attention…. immediately after an emergency, and then is forgotten again once the daily business of running a University presses back in.

I have a feeling something SMS-y may happen this time, though, since this “delay” (blah blah) has made the evening news.

The Daily got a hold of the bomb threat. The kid that found the letter took a pic in the bathroom with his camera phone.

http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/18/71608

/plug

Gophermale– thanks for all the extra insight. I explained the tone alert system to our dayside reporter, so I’m glad she talked about that in her story. The evacuation seemed to be very quick to me, considering we’re talking about thousands of students.

Daily editor: We also have that… did you confirm that it’s real?

I just read the article. Good stuff!

Vlad- GGW is slated for an appearance at Preston’s on the West Bank tonight.

Go get ‘em, tiger!

armorer, fair enough and sorry for being snide. Just seemed odd that you were so concerned about the notification time to such a far-away location… and having spent plenty of time being a student and being on campus, I jumped to the standard conclusion. I’ll take the ‘fuck you’ graciously.

Yes, Vlad. Not that I want to promote it, but GGW will be at Sgt. Preston’s. The flyer guys were very enthusiastic.

thanks for posting about exposed breasts AFTER working hours when I won’t see it, guys.