Frist 100-level closed after suspicious substance discovered near computer

Parts of the Frist Campus Center were closed and evacuated last night due to an anthrax scare after a male University graduate student spotted a suspicious white substance on the 100-level of the building.

At 9:00 p.m. a hazardous materials team arrived at the north entrance of Frist to investigate the report, Cpt. John Varone of Trenton Fire Department's Task Force One said on the scene last night.

Firefighter Anthony Maran, who entered Frist in a chemical protective suit to retrieve the substance and clean the area, described the material as five or six chunks on and around a computer terminal.

University Public Safety received an initial call from Frist operations managers reporting the substance. Public Safety officers proceeded to implement the department's existing response protocol, according to Public Safety Sgt. James Glasson.

"As a precautionary matter we followed the guidelines," Glasson said.

Red tape blocked off the northern entrances to Frist. Fire and police department vehicles were parked on the scene. Public Safety officers locked doors to the building and cordoned off the area around the computers on the 100-level.

The substance, along with the computer's keyboard, mouse and mouse pad, were removed by the Trenton hazmat team and will be sent to a New Jersey state laboratory, Varone said. The lab will notify the Princeton Regional Heath Commission with the results of the tests.

"They will make the proper notifications from there," Varone said.

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The area around the computer was cleaned with bleach, Varone added.

"I think it's very frightening, and I pray everything is all right," said Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky '04, co-chair of the Princeton Committee Against Terrorism, who watched the proceedings at Frist from outside the north entrance. Ramos-Mrosovsky added that regardless of whether this threat is real or not, the terrorists had succeeded in instilling some fear on campus.

After the material was removed from Frist, a firefighter explained to the student who found it that regardless of the test results on the substance, he should look out for flu-like symptoms in the next few days.

He was also instructed to wash his clothes.

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Frist's air ventilation system was shut down promptly after the substance was discovered, Varone said.

The students running the welcome desk were moved into Frist 118, an administrative office, while the 100-level was closed off by Public Safety officers.

With all the commotion on the 100-level, students on other floors remained in the building.

"I think it is the appropriate response. There is no reason not to be as careful as you can," Helene Goldsmith '02 said. "I would have liked to receive some notice about what is going on as I sit here on the third floor of Frist. I keep checking my e-mail waiting for a message that says there is nothing to worry about," she continued.

Princeton Borough Police and Princeton Rescue Squad were also on the scene.

University officials could not be reached for comment last night or early this morning.

Trenton's hazmat team has been kept busy with the New Jersey capital's central role in the national anthrax scare. At least two letters containing anthrax — one sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and the other sent to NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw — were postmarked in Trenton.

Before arriving on campus, Task Force One had responded to two similar incidents last night, Varone said.

The 100-level of Frist was reopened at 11:05 p.m., Glasson said.