White substance found in Science Hall
non-biological;
president warns pranks will "not be taken lightly"
A white substance that was found on two stairwells in Science
Hall on Thursday morning has been identified as a non-biological agent,
according to tests performed by the Passaic County Hazardous Materials
(HazMat) team.
Immediately after the substance was discovered, Science and Richardson halls were evacuated and closed while HazMat teams conducted an investigation. Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day, but a regular schedule resumed Friday.
The HazMat teams cleaned the two stairwells thoroughly on Thursday and a specialized cleaning service, retained by the University, cleaned the stairwells a second time that night.
According to Provost Richard Lynde, the building was safe for occupation
Thursday afternoon. "Based on all available information, it appears
there was no heightened health risk in the complex during the day (Thursday),"
he said.
Paul Cell, interim chief of University Police, said the University followed
established procedures for dealing with unidentified substances.
Although the substance was found to be harmless, the impact on the campus community was enormous, MSU President Susan A. Cole said in a campus-wide e-mail Friday afternoon. "In the midst of so many truly tragic events, it was gravely disappointing to be faced with what appears to be a thoughtless, silly prank by a member of our community that caused great distress," she wrote.
Cole said the two HazMat teams spent several hours investigating and removing the substance. "Hours that might have kept them from responding to a true emergency elsewhere," she said. "Canceled classes, lost time for teaching and learning and money spent on expensive industrial cleanup rather than other University priorities were further results of this act.
"I assure you that actions such as the one in Science Hall will
not be taken lightly," she added. "Those responsible will find
themselves subject to the fullest disciplinary actions available to the
University."
Cole asked any members of the campus community who has any knowledge regarding
this incident or other similar activities to call the TIPS hotline at
8477. All calls will be treated anonymously. "A safe community requires
the full and responsible cooperation of all of its members," she
said.
Vice president circulates mail handling
procedures
Patricia Hewitt, vice president for Facilities and Business Operations,
has sent an e-mail to the campus community regarding handling mail.
"By now we have all seen the news reports about various mailings
containing anthrax," Hewitt wrote. "I want to assure you that
the University is in communication with outside law enforcement and health
agencies regarding the incidents of harmful substances in the mail."
Hewitt said officials from University Police, Health and Safety and Auxiliary Enterprises are meeting regularly to discuss the issue as is the Crisis Management Team. "We have absolutely no reason to believe that the University and it employees will be targeted," Hewitt said. "However, given the circumstances, it is prudent to be cautious when handling mail."
Hewitt provided the following precautions:
1. If you receive a package or envelope that
appears suspicious, do not open it and immediately call University Police
at 4111.
2. If you open an envelope or package and
find that it contains any suspicious substance, cover the mailing immediately
and call University Police at 4111. Please do not contact outside agencies.
The protocols in place require our police to respond and secure the site
first. They will contact the appropriate outside agencies to assist us.
Please do not leave the area; wait for police to respond. It is important
that the area not be tampered with by others.
3. Do not continue to handle the mailing
or allow anyone else to handle the mailing. It is important to keep the
material from being handled further until the proper authorities arrive.
4. All staff who are present when the suspect
mail is opened need to remain in the area until University Police arrive.
This is important not only for your safety and welfare but to assist police
in their investigation.
5. For individuals
whose duties include the opening of mail and who wish to take additional
precautions, vinyl gloves and masks may be ordered from Central Stores.
These items are already in stock.
Phonathon set for November
The Annual Fund will hold its fall phonathon Nov. 5-8, 12-15 and 26-29.
Calls will be made to alumni and parents requesting donations to benefit
scholarships, programming and equipment. The 2000 fall phonathon raised
$37,600.
Nearly 50 students have signed up to work phonathon. "We are extremely pleased with the number of student callers who are raring to get on the phones to help raise critical funds for Montclair State," said Liz Voltman of Development. "We simply couldn't do it without their help!"
The phonathon will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Center for Continuing Education, 10 Normal Ave. For more information, call Voltman at 7472.
World-renowned deep sea expert presents
lecture
Richard Lutz, one of the foremost authorities in the world on the ecology
of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, will present an illustrated lecture on
Thursday, Oct. 25, in Sokol Lecture Room in Science Hall. His talk, which
begins at 7:15 p.m., is the first in a year-long series of lectures sponsored
by the College of Science and Mathematics.
Since the first biological expedition to these unique ecosystems in 1979,
Lutz has spent countless hours in the deepest reaches of the world’s
oceans, exploring thermal vents in a variety of deep-diving submersibles.
In 1991, he joined a number of his geological colleagues on an expedition,
during which they used the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin to dive, for
the first time, into the caldera of an actively erupting volcanic ridge
at a depth of 2,500 meters. Lutz has returned to the site at regular intervals
to document events that have occurred since the eruption.
His illustrated lecture, which includes breathtaking video footage, will
focus on spectacular biological and geological changes that have occurred
since the 1991 eruption. The exciting results of these ongoing studies
have been featured in many scientific journals and magazines, including
Science, Nature, two issues of National Geographic and an American
Scientist cover story.
Observations made during the course of Dr. Lutz's ongoing studies in
this unique “natural deep-sea laboratory” are dramatically altering
our views of the rates at which many biological and geological processes
occur.
Following up on his investigations, he is currently principal investigator
on a National Science Foundation project to produce an IMAX film, “Voyage
into the Abyss.”
Lutz earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maine in 1975 and subsequently spent several years as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. In 1979, he joined the faculty of Rutgers University, where he is a professor in the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. He has been chief scientist on numerous oceanographic cruises, has more than 110 publications to his credit and has received the Rutgers' Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research.
Employee Safety Subcommittee formed
The Employee Safety Subcommittee of the University Committee on
Campus Safety has been appointed for 2001-02. The subcommittee will consider
a broad agenda of employee-related campus safety issues and serve as an
informal communication link for employees with University Police and Security.
The subcommittee is charged with developing appropriate programs, informational
activities and opportunities for police and security officers to meet
with other employees in informal settings.
Members of the Employee Safety Subcommittee are:
Boyd Lyons of University Police and Security and Reginald Halaby
of Biology and Molecular Biology, co-chairs, Kathleen Bauer of
Human Ecology, Helen Caruso of Employee Benefits, Mary Colon
of Academic Affairs, Thomas Costello of Environmental Health and
Safety, John Dennis of Physical Plant, Amy Ferdinand of
Environmental Health and Safety, Jennifer Hunt of Sociology, Delores
McMorrin of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Programs, Randy
Mugleston of Theatre and Dance, Joseph Mulvaney of Intercollegiate
Athletics, Roger Murray of Sprague Library, Carol Nurse of
Sprague Library , Ricardo Ortegon of the Center for Adult Learning,
Kamrouz Pirouz of Economics and Finance, Jack Samuels of
HPPERLS and Valerie Van Baaren, University Counsel. Thomas Puryear
of EOF will serve as the AFT observer.