Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar The Parthenon University Archives Fall 10-27-1970 The Parthenon, October 27, 1970 Marshall University Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon Recommended Citation Marshall University, "The Parthenon, October 27, 1970" (1970). The Parthenon. 1016. https://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon/1016 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Parthenon by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. An Ed itoria I Full investigation of threats a must Smith Hall was struck by another bomb threat at remained cleared for two hours. middle of the night. 2: 15 p.m. Monday. This was the thirteenth such A directive from the state fire marshal said that· West Hall had two bomb threats in the same day, threat to Smith Hall in the past week. According to buildings should remain cleared for 12hours. This is one early in the morning and one later that night. Joseph S. Soto, vice president of business, the an even greater disruption of business. This is irritating for the residents of building was· to be closed 12 hours. At first, many look on these as fun and a good way this dormitory. The threat of a bomb can never be These threats interfere with the orderly tran­ to get out of classes. Soon, however, things treated lightly, for the possibility always exists that saction of university business. There are people who start to get a little old and students begin to there·is one. come to this university to learn and to go to class grumble. After all, did they pay their tuition to sit If there are many more scares of 12 hour and it is not fair to these students that a few should outside for 12 hours while buildings are searched? chose to disrupt many. duration, the entire semester of work may be In 1968 Marshall was hit by a rash of such scares Another thought concerning these scares is the thrown off schedule with disastrous consequences. handicapped students. It is not nearly so easy for and at that time many thought the object was early These threats must stop and one way to speed up dismissal of classes for Christmas holidays. This them to evacuate the building. They are forced to wait on the elevator and this often takes minutes, their elimination is an immediate all~ut investiga did not happen, however, and soon everything was tion called for by the administration in cooperation back to normal. that in the event of a real bomb, could prove to be precious, if not lifesaving. with the Huntington City Police and Fire de: The first reported bomb threat of this year came partments. In addition, students should cooperate the morning after the disturbances on Fourth Even worse than a classroom building having a as closely as possible with this investigation so that Avenue. This one was in Smith Hall and the building threat is a dormitory having a threat, and in the they may return to classes as quickly as possible. Tuesday The Parthenon Oct. 27, 1970 Vol. n IWISHALL uavEBSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER No. 29 untington, W.Va Action planned against threats Committee hears report from Dedmon on -scares By WAYNE FAULKNER Editor-in-chief . A course of action has been planned by the Executive Council on the current rash of bomb threats, according to Michael Gant, student body president. Gant, who attended the closed Executive Council meeting declined to say what the course of action would be. Also concerning the bomb threats, Dr. Donald N. Dedmon, acting president, said Monday that responsibility for decision on re-entry to a building closed by a bomb threat rested with those in­ vestigating. " If the fire department comes to take over a bqilding should they not, with their expertise, also make the decision when it is safe to re-enter the building?" "HOW CAN a university official," Dedmon continued, "be ex­ pected to assume a responsibility that the fire department won't assume? How can he flaunt state procedures when experts will not?" Dedmon had been criticized for his handling of-Sunday night's bomb threat against West Hall when a dorm resident telephoned him to ask if he would take the responsibility for letting the women back into their dorm. · Lt. James H. Damron, deputy fire marshall of Hunti'ngton Fire Department said that Dr. Dedmon referred the coed to Joseph S. Soto, vice president of business who later said the women should be let back in the dormitory and that he would take full responsibility. BOMB THREATS PLAGUE MARSHALL'S CAMPUS AGAil'­ "WE'VE INVESTIGATED on an on-going basis and will continue Studtuls, racully, talk with fireman arter Smith Hall closing to do so. Every effort will be expended to catch those responsible . - for disrupting our University," Dedmon said. "Our security people have already been investigating. We have always enjoyed excellent cooperation from the police department, ·eomb menace c·ont1nues the telephone company and the fire department." By TOMMIE DENNY president, was not available for The spokeman added that the When asked if he believed that the bomb scares were serious or News editor comment due to an emergency telephone company was "more that they would continue to be hoa·xes, Dr. Dedmon said, "They Executive Committee meeting. than willing to cooperate with have been hoaxes before and I suspect the current rash of calls are Marshall is again the victim A spokesman for the University officials and the law also hoaxes. But we should be reminded that bombs have been of a series of bomb threats in Chesapeake and Potomac enforcement agencies to catch placed throughout the United States including West Virginia- various campus buildings. The Telf">hone Co. of West Virginia the culprits." Bluefield State College." . latest one at press time came said. that equipment was It· is not known if the equip­ "We take every case and deal with it in terms of that case. We Monday at approximately 2: 15 available to "trace" the phone ment is now in use, but the have responded to every threat but we haven't closed the buildings p.m. at Stewart Harold Smith calls that have been coming in spokesman said electronic gear for 12 hours every time." Hall. since Oct. 9, the day after the has been used in the past suc­ Dr. Dedmon gave a "no comment" to a report in the Huntington The building was im­ Fourth Avenue disturbance. cessfully and is available now. paper that he had hung up the telephone on a coed from West Hall mediately cleared and, ac­ Bomb calls have been going to A Huntington police official inquiring about re-entry into her dorm. cording to a local authority, was the police and the fire depart­ said the maximum penalty for However, Lt. Damron said Dedmon indicated to the coed that he to remain closed for 12 hours. ments and various offices on phoning in the threats is $500 was. upset because she had gotten him out of bed. ''And when I asked Dr. Donalti Dedmon. acting campus. and a year imprisonment. to speak to him he hung up. He and I didn't talk at all." After the building was cleared In a stateijl.ent issued by Dr .DedmonMonday he commented on · Homecoming Monday , several classes took up the bomb threat involving West Hall and the actions he took. Sig Success on the lawn around Smith Hall. " In the case called to my attention, I was. in command of none of Homecoming week was More people partic ipated Others traveled to the student the facts, yet I was.asked to make a decision; not, as reported, to described as a "tremendous than in previous years, ac­ union and the rest broke-up for offer "advice". I was asked, in violation of the usual 12-hour period, success" by. Pat Harlow, cording to Miss Harlow. the day. to assume the full responsibility for our students re-entering West Huntington senior and Although there weren't as many One group of men grabbed a Hall. I referred the call to the appropriate authority for in­ Homecoming coordinator. floats as before, she believes· it football and began a game in vestigation. The responsibility for evacuating a building and The week kicked off with a was still a "great" success front of Old Main. A coed closing it for long periods of time--which if the present rash of TGIF on Oct. 18 and acti.vities because everyone participated onlooker said, "This is getting threats continues will grind the university to a halt-resides with included a convocation, pep and had vehicles in the parade. sort of ridiculous. It's going to those officials who investigate the threat and are in a position to rally, bonfire, community artist Baptist Student Union won really be a mess when the make a judgment." series ·and a rock rally Thur­ first place in the floats for their weather gets cold and the Dedmon said " I expect to do everything in my power to protect sday night. "Bug 'em Herd" float . threats continue." the safety and welfare of our students and staff." PAGE TWO THE PARTHENON O('TOBEH 27 Good ·· ever had and totally worthwhile however. they would not give Movie refunds for students to stand in line for. the team any vocal suppo_rt TO TIIE EIHTOH: The book is a lot like Mar­ which is a vital factor as was 1\\JJ( O _JPD i.