The Triangle

Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Bianca Pulido Drexel Public Safety reported a bomb threat at Stratton Hall May 23 at approximately 3 p.m. After DPS and the Philadelphia Police Department searched the building, no explosives were found and the building was declared safe.

Drexel Public Safety and the Philadelphia Police Department responded to a bomb threat at Stratton Hall May 23.

The bomb threat was reported to PPD's radio center at approximately 3 p.m. by an anonymous caller who said, "[He] heard there was a bomb in Stratton Hall on Chestnut Street," according to Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president for the Department of Public Safety at Drexel.

DPS and PPD collaboratively searched the Stratton building but did not find any explosives and declared the building safe, according to Ceccanecchio.

Upon receiving the call, Philadelphia police notified Drexel Public Safety and both departments dispatched personnel to Stratton Hall at 3:13 p.m., according to Ceccanecchio.

PPD characterized the individual as a male with a "youthful sounding" voice.

"Our primary concern is the safety of our students, faculty, and community," Ceccanecchio said.

The security personnel first evacuated the building as a precautionary measure. DPS and PPD examined the entire building, floor by floor, but found nothing alarming, according to Ceccanecchio. Stratton Hall was later declared clear and safe to enter.

Patria Castronuevo, professor of biology, said when she came to her office in Stratton around 4 p.m. DPS officers were outside the building, but there were very few people inside.

"When I read an e-mail saying there was a possible bomb threat, I was a little scared and left as soon as possible," Castronuevo said.

Students, however, did not receive any notification about the event, according to David Humes, a senior majoring in music industry.

"Public Safety did not send out an e-mail notification because the event unfolded so rapidly, and afterward, there was nothing in the building. We didn't think it was necessary," Ceccanecchio said.

"Maybe an e-mail should [have been] sent just to let people know that the situation [was] under control," Humes said.

Humes said he still felt safe at Drexel, and the bomb threat was probably just someone trying to "get out of a test."

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