University offers reward for information on bomb threats

By Laura Pelner
Campus Editor

The University is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Wednesday's and Thursday's bomb threats.

Over the two-day period, the University received three bomb scare calls — one for Hovde Hall, one for a suspicious package on a bench by the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall and one for the Electrical Engineering Building. Additionally, when Purdue got the engineering building threat it also received one for the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in the same call.

Ken Burns, executive vice president and treasurer, said the University doesn't know if any of the calls are related or were made by the same person or persons. He did say though, that they are ridiculous and mean.

"They certainly are intended to prey upon the fear of people at a time when the entire nation is anxious and concerned," Burns said. "The people who made these threats have no consciousness or regard for others. Those people have to be identified."

The University hasn't received any leads for suspects yet but Burns said he hopes the $10,000 reward helps. He stressed, however, that the reward would only be issued for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved. Also, the full $10,000, which would come from Purdue's general fund, may not be paid to only one person.

"The words 'up to' are there because there are often multiple sources of information that lead to the identification of the (perpetrator)," said Burns. "It's a matter of weighing the value of this kind of information along with other sources' information."

Joe Bennett, vice president for University relations, said that in the past the University has received multiple bomb threats within a few days, but never like this.

"The difference is there is a heightened sense of anxiety about what is going on right now," Bennett said. "It's very unfortunate that somebody is really tormenting people who are suffering."

Bennett also said this is the highest reward amount Purdue has ever offered.

Most students on campus are also upset about the threats. Sarah Lopez, a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts, said it's horrible. "I think it's terrible that some students are taking advantage of this tragedy and scaring people even more," Lopez said. "We need to act the ages we are and stop adding to the pain by making threats."

Making a false report of a bomb threat is a Class D felony that is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

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