photo by Robert Stewart A note suggesting a possible bomb threat was found in the science building on the campus of Concordia University in Seward on Aug. 24.

by Robert Stewart

    Coming just over a week after a bomb scare at Southeast Community College in Milford, Concordia University in Seward had its own encounter with a threatening note.
     The note, indicating a possible bomb threat, was found in the science building on the campus of Concordia University on Aug. 24 around 11:30 p.m.
     The Seward Police Department was first to arrive on the scene. They were later supplemented in their search by the Nebraska State Patrol and Omaha Police Department.
     Four Seward officers were involved in searching the campus with one state patrol officer and an officer and K-9 unit from Omaha. Assisting law enforcement were the CU Critical Incident Management Team, comprised of members of the administration and security and maintenance staff at the college.
     A command center was set up from which the search was coordinated. Seward Police Chief Alan Baldwin said the university's emergency plan helped to make the search thorough and effective.
     "Concordia did such an excellent job facilitating, assisting with the search of their property," he said. "I felt that we worked together as a team on this issue."
     Searches were made of the interiors of all the buildings which are open to the public and smaller sheds and field houses, which are restricted access, were given perimeter searches.
     "All the (buildings) we felt were necessary to search, we searched. We were searching multiple buildings at the same time," Baldwin said. "The whole grounds were pretty much walked around."
     No details as to the exact content of the note or whether it was handwritten or typed have been released. Baldwin said the incidents at Concordia and Southeast Community College "may or may not be related," but the Seward and Milford police departments are working together on aspects of the investigation.
     "I don't know whether there's any connection or not to Southeast," he said. "We've (Seward and Milford police) been in contact with each other regarding the two incidents."
     No suspects have been named and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, which is still underway.
     "Some evidence has been taken to the Nebraska State Patrol for examination," Baldwin said.
     The search, which lasted until "roughly 5:30 (a.m.)," according to Baldwin, yielded no explosives or suspicious items.
     Classes in the science building were suspended on Aug. 25 and a gallery talk scheduled for that evening was postponed, but all other classes went ahead as scheduled.
     In a press release issued by the university, CU President the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich said every precaution was taken to look after the safety of the students.
     "The university staff and law enforcement have been thorough, prompt and professional in their response," he said. "We have treated this as a serious issue, and we are confident that we have taken the appropriate action for the safety of all at the university."
     Kristy Plander, director of integrated marketing and communication for CU, said the fact that the time at which the note was found helped the university work to ensure its students' safety without too much interruption in their schedules.
     "Since the note was found at night, they had time to search all the buildings," she said. "We were pretty thorough in our investigation and felt that our students were safe so we let them go on about their school day."
    
    Gallery opening
     The gallery talk and reception that was cancelled due to the possible threat has been re-scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8. A lecture featuring Sharon Kennedy of the Sheldon Memorial Gallery in Lincoln will be held in the Thom Leadership Education Center from 6 to 7 p.m., and a reception will follow in the Marxhausen Gallery from 7 to 8 p.m.