Law Enforcement Makes Progress in Pitt Bomb Threat Investigation, Local Students Speak Up

Local University of Pittsburgh students and employees have been dealing with numerous bomb threats since February. Nearly two months later, the daily occurence is becoming a distraction, and everyone involved is hoping for a resolution.

David J. Hickton, United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, issued a statement today, Wednesday, on the bomb threats that have been disrupting the Pitt community.

"We have made significant progress in the investigation into the bomb threats made against University of Pittsburgh facilities," Hickton said in the statement. "While these threats may cause temporary disruption, the dedicated instructors, students and employees at the University of Pittsburgh persevere in their daily work in the classrooms and on campus."

Caitlin Yorio of Verona has been a Pitt student for two years now and will be graduating at the end of this month. She said the bomb threats have been an inconvenience to her even though she doesn't live on campus.

"It's just irritating because my classes have been cancelled or moved off campus, which, thankfully, hasn't been too far," she said. "The atmosphere is a little different. I have been seeing lines of people mainly outside of the Cathedral of Learning just to get into class because they are checking any bags that are brought into buildings. You can also tell that a lot of professors and students are frustrated because we are all wishing the semester away."

Yorio also said many students are scared an beginning to move from campus.

"Compared to before the threats everyone was so happy," she said. "Some students are taking it very seriously and have moved off campus for the remaining of the semester or back home. Others have talked to the dean and professors and finished the semester early because they didn't feel safe anymore."

Erin Cope from Oakmont—a junior at Pitt—agreed.

"Some students have chosen to go home and finish the semester online or through other means," she said. "Others are trying to build up morale and encourage everyone that Pitt can get through this.

"You definitely hear a lot of jokes being made about the bomb threats, but people are certainly taking them seriously. A Facebook group was made where upperclassmen offer to take in underclassmen or other students living in the residence halls because of the numerous threats that have evacuated students in the middle of the night."

There have been dozens of bomb threats over the last two months. Last night, a Post-Gazette reporter received an e-mail bomb threat against the home of Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg.

Marisa Angiolini of Verona has worked at Pitt in a private building for more than 10 years. Though she hasn't been directly impacted by the bomb threats, she said she hopes people continue to take the bomb threats seriously.

"I believe it’s in the back of everyone’s mind, but most people seem angry and annoyed," she said. "I hope police find the person and charge him/her with terrorism. In this day and age, we all must be on full guard."

Hickton said law enforcement officials have received a lot of helpful information.

"We thank the University of Pittsburgh students and community members for the information they have provided so far," Hickton said in the statement. "The information has helped us to focus upon potential suspects. We encourage anyone who thinks that they may have information to continue sharing this with law enforcement. You have many options for reporting and may remain anonymous."

Yorio said she hopes a resolution comes sooner than later.

"I wish they would catch the person who is doing this," she said. "I know they are working very hard to do so, and I give them a lot of credit but I just don't see what they are getting out of this. I feel like it is such a disruption with finals and presentationsin a few weeks. You can't sit down and focus on whatever it may be without thinking about when your phone is going to go off because of a bomb threat."

Cope said she's proud of her school community.

"It's gotten to the point where I want to finish this semester as quickly as I can, while spending as little time on campus as possible," she said. "I can't understand the motives of whoever is causing this extreme inconvenience to my education, but I am proud of the strength the Pitt community is showing by working together and moving forward."

See these stories about the Pitt bomb threats on Patch:

_______________________

Plum-Oakmont Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.