Letter to the Editor 4/11

In 1995, Florida’s Ocala Star-Banner read: “Our response to terrorism should be carefully measured. If our First Amendment rights suffer as a result of the awful domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, the terrorists have indeed, won,” echoing Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote from more than two centuries before: “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” To the Editor,

In 1995, Florida’s Ocala Star-Banner read: “Our response to terrorism should be carefully measured. If our First Amendment rights suffer as a result of the awful domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, the terrorists have indeed, won,” echoing Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote from more than two centuries before: “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

Due to a recent spate of bomb threats, the University of Pittsburgh’s buildings now have only one open entrance and require a University ID for access.

This harsh response severely impedes all those who learn, visit, work and play on our campus. If a student has 10 minutes to get from Posvar to single-entrance Benedum, how much class time is he or she guaranteed to lose? What about those without University IDs, such as parents, siblings, local and international guests at performances and events, and prospective students, professors and donors?

Many of the threats are being emailed via the Mixmaster anonymous remailer, making them effectively untraceable. Consequently, they are of little risk or effort to make, meaning no imminent cessation can be reasonably expected. Given additionally that no evidence of any explosives has been found, the University’s current lockdown seems unconsidered and unsustainable.

Ted Zellers

School of Arts and Sciences