Bomb threats won’t disrupt exams

Because of a series of bomb threats throughout the semester, a team of faculty and administrators has developed a plan to minimize potential disruptions to final exams, which begin today.

Working with the provost’s office to help coordinate alternate exam sites, the team’s goal is to ensure that students know where they should take their exams in the event of another threat.

While police continue to investigate the threats, they have asked that employees pay particular attention to all incoming phone calls.

They offer a few key guidelines. Write down unfamiliar phone numbers listed on Caller ID before answering the phone. Ask the caller questions about the threat, including exact location, kind of bomb and when it will explode. Note any distinctive details about the caller or the call, from gender and race to tone of voice, attitude and background noises. Do not hang up the phone. Go immediately to another phone and call 911.

A reward of up to $3,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for the bomb threats.

Information can be reported to: Crimestoppers, 977-4000; directly to University Police, 924-7166; or through the department’s confidential online Silent Watch Program at http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice. For a copy of a bomb threat checklist, call 924-8845 or e-mail mab3q@virginia.edu.

In the case of a bomb threat, both the University’s emergency weather lines, 924-SNOW and 243-SNOW, and UVA Top News Daily will provide updates and the status of affected buildings.