Student admits fabricating tale of campus gunman, police say
Mar. 5, 2008
Eric Ferreri - McClatchy NewspapersIssue date: 2/28/08 Section: MCT News
That's what bothers Forrest Gilliam, Appalachian State's student body president. Gilliam said he sympathized with Haney but is frustrated that the saga went on as long as it did. Helicopters hovered overhead and students received calls from panicky parents who monitored news reports. Before long, phone lines were overloaded.
"He saw what his lie was doing," said Gilliam, a senior from Marshall, N.C. "He seemed to be enjoying his time on camera."
Haney did not respond to an e-mail request for comment Tuesday.
Along with the misdemeanor criminal charge, he could face university sanctions ranging from community service to probation to suspension, according to campus officials.
"Under our code of student conduct, he has certainly violated several rules," said Lynn Drury, associate vice chancellor for university communications.
She said she had no idea how much the false report cost Appalachian State, but at least the campus was able to thoroughly test new safety procedures and systems implemented after the killings at Virginia Tech last year. Appalachian State's first e-mail alert to students, faculty and staff went out 24 minutes after police responded to the student's initial call, Drury said.
The university issued several updates on its Web site and cancelled classes Monday night. After nearly an hour and a half, the university withdrew the alert.
"You can't not do what we did without knowing the end," Drury said of the lockdown decision. "We would do the same thing again and hopefully do it better."
University officials learned a few things during the situation, Drury said. For instance, Appalachian State would probably get only one chance to distribute a message to cell phones during a disastrous event. After that, the system would be jammed. Redundant communication systems are necessary, and the university plans to install a siren system.
"We certainly identified some bugs we need to work out," Drury said. "We probably got a B minus."
Though the lockdown occurred late in the afternoon, some classes were in session and some professors weren't sure how to handle the situation _ they allowed students to walk the halls, go to the bathroom and pass by windows, said Gilliam, the student body president.
But overall, there was little panic, he added. Students exchanged text messages, and many holed up in computer labs to watch updates roll in on the university Web site.
Still, the rumor mill did prove disturbing and inaccurate at times, causing stress until the lockdown was lifted, Gilliam said.
"Things were being said that just weren't true," he said. "A lot of people thought there was a gunman loose on campus."
"He saw what his lie was doing," said Gilliam, a senior from Marshall, N.C. "He seemed to be enjoying his time on camera."
Haney did not respond to an e-mail request for comment Tuesday.
Along with the misdemeanor criminal charge, he could face university sanctions ranging from community service to probation to suspension, according to campus officials.
"Under our code of student conduct, he has certainly violated several rules," said Lynn Drury, associate vice chancellor for university communications.
She said she had no idea how much the false report cost Appalachian State, but at least the campus was able to thoroughly test new safety procedures and systems implemented after the killings at Virginia Tech last year. Appalachian State's first e-mail alert to students, faculty and staff went out 24 minutes after police responded to the student's initial call, Drury said.
The university issued several updates on its Web site and cancelled classes Monday night. After nearly an hour and a half, the university withdrew the alert.
"You can't not do what we did without knowing the end," Drury said of the lockdown decision. "We would do the same thing again and hopefully do it better."
University officials learned a few things during the situation, Drury said. For instance, Appalachian State would probably get only one chance to distribute a message to cell phones during a disastrous event. After that, the system would be jammed. Redundant communication systems are necessary, and the university plans to install a siren system.
"We certainly identified some bugs we need to work out," Drury said. "We probably got a B minus."
Though the lockdown occurred late in the afternoon, some classes were in session and some professors weren't sure how to handle the situation _ they allowed students to walk the halls, go to the bathroom and pass by windows, said Gilliam, the student body president.
But overall, there was little panic, he added. Students exchanged text messages, and many holed up in computer labs to watch updates roll in on the university Web site.
Still, the rumor mill did prove disturbing and inaccurate at times, causing stress until the lockdown was lifted, Gilliam said.
"Things were being said that just weren't true," he said. "A lot of people thought there was a gunman loose on campus."
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