With the memory of Oregon still fresh in our minds, the idea of a Philly school being next sent the Universities throughout the Philadelphia area into panic when the same meme was directed at us. There was a mass exodus on my (Villanova, a Catholic school right outside of Philly and near St. Joe's, who recently housed the Pope) campus and on many other campuses. Students emailed professors announcing they would not be attending class, and professors emailed students to inform them that class would be cancelled, tests would be rescheduled (in the middle of midterms week) and they understood if the student was unable/unwilling to attend. The schools on the other hand, refused to cancel classes. They amped up security and proclaimed that classes would continue as schedule. The schools refused to bow down, saying that if school was cancelled they potential "attack" would be reschedule.
The Villanova Campus on Monday morning (8/5) was desolate. I went to my classes. In my 9:30 a.m. class I was 1 of 6 students to attend class, and my 10:30 a.m. class was cancelled that morning by the professor. The Business school was empty, the quad was empty, everyone except the Engineering classes (where the professors had emailed the students telling them they NEEDED to come) was empty.
Nothing ended up happening. No one acted upon the meme that was sent out. but was it a win for us? We were scared. We fell into the trap that was laid out for us. The goal was to create mass panic and fear, and whoever announced the "attack" succeeded. I may not have been as panicked as some, but I still went back ways to and from classes (avoiding the quad and Oreo), carried mace in my pocket and after classes I went off campus to stay with my team for the day. Our practice and many practices were cancelled that day, and no one was able to focus on their studies. We all waited as the "deadline" of 2:00 p.m. came and went.
Nothing happened at 2:00 p.m, but did nothing really happen? Our homes were threatened and we reacted with fear. Our campus is 1 of 110 in and around Philly. The chances of it being us was slim to none, yet we acted as if it were going to happen. I was one of them. I feared something that could happen. If I feared everything that could happen I wouldn't get in a car, wouldn't go outside in the rain, I wouldn't LIVE! I agree we should all act cautiously and try to minimize risk, but how cautiously is too cautiously?
I gave up a day of my life because of my fear.
