Hopkins Security's efforts to protect students inadequate

Since the Sept. 11 events, terrorism has been fresh on the minds of all Americans. In particular, security has been a major concern for parents of college students. It's understandable that parents are worried about their children, but that worry is further justified when you consider some of our school's reactions to recent terrorist threats against the University.

When a bomb threat was called in last week, the University decided to close locations like the Homewood Academic Computing (HAC) Lab and the Hutzler Reading Room (Hut), while opting to keep the Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Library open. If their primary concern truly was the safety of Johns Hopkins students, then the first location they closed should have been the MSE Library. Instead, they did a cursory examination of the library and concluded that all six levels were secure. Yet at the same time, those same security officials were unable to make such a "thorough" examination of the HAC Lab and the Hut, which total less than one level of the MSE Library in terms of area.

It would seem that if the entire MSE Library could be examined, then so too could the HAC Lab and the Hut. But for whatever reason, Security felt they had to shut down the HAC Lab and the Hut, while possibly endangering the lives of hundreds of students. Considering the threat was called in just past 12 midnight, it was highly unacceptable for Security to shut down the less-populated locations and leave the popular library open. Had that bomb threat proved true, it would seem that the MSE Library would have been the first place to go.

On Wednesday, there were two more events that exasperated the issue of security at Hopkins. First, the University shut down the ventilation systems from the morning through mid-afternoon on the recommendation of Baltimore City authorities, who were worried about air-born anthrax. To further protect their students, they canceled labs that day. Though all ventilation systems were shut down because they were thought to be possible targets, non-lab classes met, thus forcing many students to face the possible threat of anthrax. Again, the University failed to take the greater population into consideration and though they shut down all ventilation systems, they only canceled a small percentage of classes.

This brings us to the last point. On the same day, a letter stained with what appeared to be oil was submitted to Security, and then taken by the Baltimore City Police Department for anthrax testing. For a school that hasn't concerned itself with the greater safety of its students, it seems they overreacted to a letter that was probably dropped in one of our own parking lots while in transit from the main mail room to the ROTC building, though the letter was addressed to a graduate admissions office. It's sad to note that the University's security officials care more about unopened letters than they do about the students who entrust them with their lives.

Something must be done. It is essential for our University to begin taking our lives seriously. They need to drop this policy of secrecy and inform the students of what happens when it happens. They also need to think of the greater student population, not just a select few that can easily be herded to and fro. We ask that Security officials do their job because we, the students, want to trust that they have our best interests in mind.