The Buchtelite

Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Facebook Mortensen's Facebook profile page which had a threatening statement posted and is still visible in the Mini-Feed section of his page.

Early Monday morning, a University of Akron student, Steven T. Morteensen, was arrested for inducing panic on campus.

Students were informed of the situation via Special Edition Zipmail and were notified a student had been arrested after threatening comments poosted on a Web site.

"A member of the residence life staff saw the student's website," senior public relations representative Ken Torisky said. "On the Web site there were threatening statements made about the student being unhappy with the university."

John Messina, Director for Residence Life and Housing, said the arrest was made in the Exchange Street Residence Hall.

According to Torisky, the police entered the room shortly after midnight.

"A student reported suspicions to an RA who contacted the Resident Director, Assistant Director and the police," Messina said in an e-mail.

Mortensen has been issued a no trespass warning from the university. The university is planning to proceed with "appropriate disciplinary actions."

President Louis Proenza said that he didn't know very much about the incident Monday.

"You have about as much information as I have," Proenza said.

Proenza also said that the university always takes any threat seriously. However he said that it was "gratifying" that the police discovered there were no weapons.

He stated that he believed this was a bad joke of some sort.

"It is highly unlikely that this was anything other than an unfortunate prank, hoax or whatever you want to call it," Proenza said.

This incident, unfortunately, comes days after the shooting at the Northern Illinois University, which killed five people and wounded 15 others.

The University of Akron had their own response to that incident.

Proenza sent a Special Edition Zipmail to all students, reassuring them they are safe on campus.

Proenza's e-mail also stated that the university already has several measures in place and others still under review.

According to the Zipmail, all officers are trained for situations such as the one at Northern Illinois. The university also has a "mutual-aid agreement" with the Akron Police Department, Metro SWAT and various other police and SWAT departments in the area. This helps the campus receive fast emergency action if needed.

Proenza made sure to point out in the Zipmail last week that the emergency notification systems are in place on, and around campus.

Since the Virginia Tech tragedy, the university has added the Z-Alert text messaging system, which will notify students of emergencies on campus through a text message. Proenza urged students to sign up for the service and give priority to any messages sent by the university.

"I know that students receive many text messages throughout a typical day," Proenza said in the "special edition" Zipmail. "If you are a Z-Alert subscriber, please give immediate attention to any emergency text messages you receive from the University."

Proenza said the reason he sent the e-mail to student was because "it is important for our campus community to be aware of what we are doing to create a safe campus community."

He also said that he has sent condolences to NIU.

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