Boy, what a horrible feeling to hear anchorwoman Sally Thorner cut in on 105.7 with her news blurbs to report an increased police presence at Towson University and police tape around Linthicum Hall. Particularly horrible when I’m at work all day with the radio my only source of news, and no further talk of anything at Towson for the rest of what was a very long day. Thankfully, coming home and pulling up CNN did not reveal any articles about “Shooting At Suburban Maryland College.” A quick trip to the Jay-Zee revealed that the increased security presence was a precaution against a threat that the administration was not specifying.

The anonymous threat forced school officials to beef up police presence throughout campus but especially around Linthicum Hall, a liberal arts classroom building.

Though they declined to discuss specifics, a spokesperson says the threat did not have a high level of credibility. Still, the school wasn’t taking chances.

“We wanted to make sure that the campus community was aware of why there was an increased police presence on campus,” said Carol Dunsworth.

As part of their precautions, the school has closed off the other entrances to Linthicum Hall–students were allowed to use only one door. Once inside, they were greeted by a lot of security.

Though classes were not canceled, many students decided to stay home. Those who did venture out were glad the school erred on the side of caution.

“I thought it might be kind of like a prank. It’s close to Thanksgiving. They just kind of want to get another day off, but there is security here, and that made me feel good that they took it seriously enough, you know, to have a presence here,” a student said.

Given the nature of the Virginia Tech shootings last spring, and the shooter’s particular course of study (an English major), is it a wonder that the imagery of police tape around Linthicum Hall fill my heart with dread? Linthicum, after all, is home to Towson’s College of Liberal Arts, the English Department has its offices on the second floor, and, indeed, following VTech, myself and many of my fellow English majors were consumed with the thoughts “What if this had happened here?”

I’m very thankful that nothing dreadful occured at Towson. I spent more time than I cared to last spring contemplating such an event.