In the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks, residents of the Quadrangle had their own share of anxiety as a bomb scare and fire alarms forced evacuations throughout the day.
A fire alarm pulled by an unknown student yesterday morning was followed by a total evacuation of the historic residence. When staff felt that residents were not evacuating the facility fast enough, they went door-to-door, encouraging students to vacate the premises, according to Spruce House Dean Alton Strange.
"Somebody pulled the fire alarm, then some other things happened that forced miscommunication and we had to evacuate," Strange said of yesterday morning's events.
And last night around 8 p.m., pandemonium struck the dorms once again, as students making their way back from dinner and class were not allowed to enter the Quad. University Police, security guards and members of the Emergency Response Team checked out the area following a threatening telephone call.
"In light of everyone's attitudes since [Tuesday], everyone's a little jumpy," Penn Police Lt. Jerry Leddy said. "We just took a look around the Quad and everything's great."
"I think it was just a reaction to [Tuesday] and everyone trying to be safe and secure," he added.
As hundreds of students were waiting outside the Quad for the second time in less than 24 hours, tensions were high -- and so was annoyance.
"I think it's ridiculous that we're forced to evacuate twice in one day," College freshman Grant Ginder said. "I think people are feeding off of fears and reactions as a result of [Tuesday]."
"We're all really frustrated," added College freshman Tom Digiano.
But for others, the added annoyance and inconvenience was gratefully accepted.
"I'd rather them be overly cautious and inconvenience us because if there really was a bomb here and they didn't evacuate us, then that'd be trouble," College freshman Krystal Cope said.
Most Quad residents agreed that yesterday's threats and evacuations were not causing them to second guess their safety.
"I know for the most part this is all just hoaxes," Digiano said. "It's just really frustrating that someone would do that."
Students said that the Quad's tight security on a daily basis has helped alleviate any fears that recent threats might otherwise conjure up.
"I think the security guards at Penn, especially in the Quad, do a good job," College freshman Emily Wise said. "They're not letting anyone in the Quad who shouldn't be in the Quad."
For others, the impact of Tuesday's tragic attacks and subsequent threats on the Quad have not sunk in yet.
"Our mind is just in a state of denial ... that these threats don't seem real," College freshman Lauren Cohen said. "We see it on TV, but could never imagine it happening here."
