In the Perry-Castenada Library students are studying intensively for upcoming mid-terms, group assignments, papers or doing the usual homework. Little would you know that just over 2 weeks ago it was home to a major crime scene that caused fear, panic and university lockdown.
It is always one thing to read about a campus shooting in the news and another to actually be in one. 20 minutes into my first class of the day, Japanese, students receive a text message alert from the university.
"Armed subject reported last seen at Perry Castaneda Library on 9/28/2010. Details to follow."
What?
Oh.
And then it hit me that someone was carrying a gun in the library across the street. We barricaded the door, turned off the lights, closed the blinds and continued on with class. Then the next text message came.
"Again, armed subject reported at Perry Castaneda Library. Shelter in place. Stay where you are at. More information to follow."
The university alarm went off and everyone moved indoors and into shelter.
Things just got serious.
All I can say is thank goodness for modern technology. We were able to Facebook, Twitter and listen to radio to find out what was happening. There was a man dressed in black armed with an automatic weapon and shooting on campus who then shot himself on level 6 of the PCL. Then, there were suspicions that there might be a second shooter on campus. There were police, SWAT teams, reporters everywhere and there was even a tank. We were evacuated and the campus was eventually given the "all clear" but classes were cancelled and the university remained sealed off. Luckily nobody was injured or hurt. It was definitely a hectic morning but I'm very impressed by the way the police and university handled the situation.
Now, two weeks later, everything is normal again thankfully.
Unluckily, another first time has been added to my list.
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