connecting*the*dots

WOUB: Radio & Television
Rock band promotional sticker triggers bomb alert on OU campus

ATHENS, OH (2006-03-02) A sticker on a bicycle outside a restaurant on the campus of Ohio University is behind a bomb scare this morning.

Ohio University Dean of Students Terry Hogan says an Ohio University police officer spotted a bicycle attached to the Oasis restaurant at 5:30 a.m. this morning with a sticker containing a message attached to it.

“‘This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb’ is the name of a band out of Pensacola, Fla.,” said Hogan. “The sticker was actually a promotional item for that entity.”

A bomb squad was called in from Columbus to investigate the bike, resulting in an evacuation of four buildings on campus for more than three hours.

The area was cordoned off and Gordy Hall, Ellis Hall, Scott Quad and Konneker Alumni Center were all closed until 8:40 a.m. when police allowed students students and faculty into the buildings and the immediate area.

Hogan says police were informed from the owner of the bike that the sign in question was just a sticker. The bomb squad disabled the bike to confirm that.

The bike owner’s name is not being released but Hogan says he has cooperated with the investigation.

All in all, Hogan says the university is pleased with the response from OUPD and Athens Police and fire in handling the scare. He says protocol updated after 9/11 was used for the first time in response to the potential threat.

OUPD is investigating the incident but no criminal charges have been filed.

You know, every day, I’m more and more amazed at how people in this country have absolutely no fucking clue. How could any rational human being take this bumper sticker as a threat? It’s not like the damn thing was ticking; someone had to pause, read the words, make a judgement call on the potential danger to the community and alert the authorities (if it wasn’t an “authority” find in the first place). But, hey! At least the new post-9/11 protocols are working correctly.

bin Laden completely proved that we’re a country of religion, not faith. We’re so busy looking up for direction from leaders and God, we’ve completely lost our faith in our common man.