The Crazies of Wisconsin, 27 Sept

The crazy of the day actually struck very close to home. According to the Associated Press, the student body has nothing but praise for the alert system. I, however, have personally heard students complain that the alerts were mostly confusing, especially the last of the three e-mails that were sent out.

Here's the text of the first e-mail that was sent over the UW email system, from Captain Johnnie Diamante, sent 24 Sep at 6:06 pm.

UW Police and City of Madison Police are currently searching for a suicidal
man who claims to have a gun. The search is focused on the area of UW
Hospital at 600 Highland Drive. Police are asking people to stay away
from the area. The entrances to the Hospital are blocked. The emergency
room is open. The emergency room can be accessed from University Avenue
to University Bay Drive.

Police are seeking Jesse A. Miller, a white male, 6 feet tall, 160 lbs.
Miller may be moving in the west campus area and armed.

More information will be forthcoming. Tune to local media for additional
information.

Here's the second e-mail, sent at 8:26 pm.

UW Police and City of Madison Police are continuing to search for a
suicidal man who claims to have a gun. At this time, police are asking
people to avoid the campus area. If you are currently on campus studying or
attending a campus activity, please stay indoors. If you must leave the
campus area, do so by traveling in groups or by campus buses, which are
still operating.

All UW-Madison classes held west of the Veterinary Medicine Building,
2015 Linden Drive, are canceled for the evening and the UW-Madison women's
soccer game against Northern Iowa University at 7 p.m. at the McClimon
Track and Soccer Complex also has been canceled.

For more continuing updates on this situation, visit <http://www.wisc.edu>.

And, finally, the last e-mail, sent out at 11:24 pm.

University Police have information to believe that Jesse Miller, the person
of interest in this situation, is a danger to himself, but not to members
of the UW-Madison campus community. Police believe that Tuesday's incidents
reflect a cry for help.

As of 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, campus operations had returned to
business-as-usual for tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 25, with continued
heightened security at UW Hospital and Clinics and in the West Campus Area.

Students should plan to attend classes, all employees should report to work
and anyone with an appointment at UW Hospital should plan to arrive at the
designated time.

Check the <http://www.wisc.edu> home page or your local news for the most
up-to-date information.

"This has been an unusual and troubling situation, but we have confidence
that UWPD and other police agencies have handled this situation well," said
Provost Pat Farrell. "I want to thank students, faculty and staff for
heeding campus safety alerts and spreading important information."

One can only assume that this particular Wisconsin crazy is still on the lamb. What I find most interesting about the whole affair is the scare tactic of the second e-mail, contrasted with the 'it's okay, he's only dangerous to himself' tone of the third. I, personally, am glad that I can dispel a mistaken nationally syndicated news article. How many students did that guy talk to, after all?