Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, right? Well, on Sunday, March 9, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The UConn Climbing Center received a bomb threat, and the aftermath was messy.
9 AM – A Chilly Start
It’s a cold, windy 30 degrees outside and I’m decked out in shorts and a T-shirt. Why? Because the Bouldering Competition’s theme is “Surf n’ Send,” and I’m committed. At least I have the sense to throw on a hoodie before heading to South Dining Hall for breakfast.
10 AM – Fueling Up
The day doesn’t truly begin until there’s food in my belly. I’m mentally preparing for the competition, already imagining the pride I’ll feel handing in my scorecard. Except, I never got to hand it in.
11 AM – Warming Up
At the Rec Center, I stretch before heading into the Climbing Center. Flexibility is key, but you know what’s even more important? Not having a bomb go off. We bask in the anticipation with friends, completely unaware of what’s coming.
12:45 PM – Competition Kicks Off
The staff announces the rules, and the competition begins! We hand in our scorecards and start climbing, chasing maximum points.
2:25 PM – The Countdown
“Everyone, you have FIVE MINUTES left to fill out your scorecard,” the staff announces. Most of us are exhausted. I’ve given my all and my grip is shot. The only thing burning more than my muscles is the excitement of finishing my first competition.
Then—“FIRE. THERE IS A FIRE. EVERYONE EXIT.”
Does anyone smell smoke? Nope. Any alarms blaring? Also nope. But hey, if UConn ever wants to test fire drill response times, apparently all they need to do is yell “FIRE!” at a bunch of adrenaline-fueled climbers. Still, we follow instructions. It’s proven that people respond fastest to fire warnings, so good call on their part.
2:30 PM – Freezing Outside
Standing in our beach-themed outfits in the biting wind, we joke around to keep spirits high. Climbers are some of the best people—supportive, resilient and always problem-solving.
Then, we see three police officers escorting a student out of the Rec Center. What is going on?
Word spreads fast. A friend overheard the staff talking. Apparently, someone found a neon green sticky note on a climber’s backpack, and it contained a bomb threat.
The Note’s Bizarre Journey
From what we gather, the sticky note, which read “A bomb is going to go off in the Climbing Center,” was first placed on a backpack. A bomb threat on a Post-it? If you’re going to disrupt my Sunday, at least put in some effort.
Then, for some reason, a friend of the backpack’s owner peeled it off and stuck it onto their friend’s T-shirt—because nothing screams “joke” like a bomb threat? Imagine finding out you’ve been walking around with a bomb threat stuck to your back like some kind of terrible April Fools’ joke, except it’s March and also a felony. Then, while they were climbing, the note fell off. A staff member picked it up, immediately called the cops and the evacuation began.
The Aftermath
Now, the police and Rec Center officials inform us that they need to conduct a full bomb sweep. No one is allowed back in to retrieve their belongings until at least tonight, maybe even tomorrow morning. Two lines form: one for students who can’t get into their dorms without their ID, and another for those who lost belongings. Most of us fall into both categories.
Cold and exhausted, people start heading to Bookworm’s Café and the bookstore for warmth. Officials assure us they’ll contact RAs to let students into their dorms. All I was hearing was, “Oh, you need your student ID to get into your dorm? Too bad kiddo! Hope you enjoy your new life as a vagabond in the bookstore!”
3:30 PM – A Communication Breakdown
We make it to Bookworm’s, where we manage to buy food using our PeopleSoft numbers. Then, because climbing shoes aren’t made for running, we sprint barefoot back to our dorms.
Except—surprise! No RAs are at Watson or Eddy Hall to let us in, despite promises that help would be there. So, there we are, barefoot and freezing, waiting for a kind stranger to let us in. UConn tells students not to let others into dorms for security reasons, but maybe—just maybe—they should ensure their own communication works first so students aren’t stranded outside their own buildings. UConn says, “Don’t let strangers into the dorms!” but also fails to let actual residents in. Love that for us!
Finally, Some Relief
Staff said that, hopefully, our items would be ready for pick-up Monday morning; I go to the Rec Center and, thankfully, grab my essentials. Items were ready for pickup at 6 a.m. on Monday, but the email only comes in super late in the afternoon. Finally, my life is back to normal—I can study, eat and have access into my dorm.
Lessons Learned
This whole fiasco highlighted one major flaw: UConn’s emergency communication between the Rec Center and Residence Halls is seriously lacking. The Climbing Center staff handled the situation phenomenally, but the follow-through for students affected by the evacuation? Not so much. On the bright side, I was reminded just how great my climbing community is. Their humor and support got us through a ridiculous, stressful day. Who knew the biggest hazard at a climbing competition wouldn’t be falling, but rather a neon sticky note. Next time, UConn, let’s make sure students can actually get back into their dorms after an emergency, yeah?
Read about the bomb threat from the News Section here.