According to the newspaper, the bomb threat that was phoned into the library came in at 12:44, and the second threat of four men with guns came in four minutes later (Threat clears library,ΠSept. 25.) The article goes on to say that the second threat was made before officers had reached the library. Why did it take them so long to arrive? And how much time passed between the time of the first call and when the actual evacuation began? Ten minutes? I would like to think that someone could act faster than that under an emergency situation such as this.

ISU Police Cpt. Gene Deisinger said that the second call brought the original threat into question because the presence of gunmen and a bomb was unlikely.Œ

Does he not remember that that exact thing DID happen during the tragedy that took place at Columbine High School in Colorado?

Another thing I don¡t understand is how DPS decided that after approximately one hour of searching, that all was well and the coast was clear. One hour? It takes me longer than that to search my soul! Consider all the rewiring that has been going on in the library, I¡d think it would be awfully easy for someone to stash explosives up in the ceiling somewhere without detection. Or perhaps in one of the many packages or boxes that the library receives daily. Or hidden among the thousands of books resting on shelves. Or in one of the many nooks and crannies available in the building ¢ you get the picture ¢ not enough time spent.

I¡ve heard of one-hour photos and one-hour Martinizing, but to just spend one hour to save possibly hundreds of lives? Totally unacceptable in my opinion.

Jim McElherne

Snedecor Hall