Photo by Laura Hoeft
A playful action by a Drake University student prompted a visit from the Des Moines Police Bomb Squad Tuesday morning when university staff discovered a neglected backpack with an unusual note attached.
Staff and students remained inside Howard Hall while the bomb squad responded to a report of a suspicious backpack left unattended on the academic building’s steps on the east side of Drake University’s campus.
Major Leonard Murray, commander of the Des Moines Bureau of Homeland Security, said each situation is different and it is up to the discretion of the officers on the scene to determine if an evacuation is necessary.
“If it was determined that (the backpack) was a threat, we would have handled it differently,” Murray said. “Everything is situation-dependent.”
The perception of the students inside was a little different. Katie Stephenson (E4) is a tutor for the Writing Workshop, which is hosted on the second floor of Howard Hall.
“I took the stairwell next to the front doorway where the backpack was,” Stephenson said. “I saw the man in the ‘moon suit’ outside and I realized my flesh was exposed.”
A university staff member originally discovered the backpack on the south steps of Howard Hall at about 8 a.m. At 8:02 a.m., Campus Security was notified and an officer was dispatched to Howard.
Director of Campus Security Hans Hanson said the officer discovered a note that “looked a little weird” on the backpack. The officer requested a Des Moines Police Officer examine the backpack as well.
Police reports indicate DMPD was called at 8:26 a.m. An officer on patrol near campus arrived shortly thereafter. He also found the backpack and note, which read “For You,” to be suspicious and requested a bomb technician.
“We thought only one technician would show up, but then the whole squad showed up,” Hanson said.
Hanson said DMPD officers took control of the situation and asked Campus Security officers to redirect students around or away from the building. Bomb squad technicians x-rayed the backpack in place, and Hanson said the package was void of explosives but there was a clear image of a handgun inside the bag. Bomb squad members, having determined the bag was not an immediate threat to the building or its occupants, decided against an evacuation. Hanson said the squad attached a rope to the bag to pull it away from the building.
A squad member in full body armor approached the backpack, cut it open and removed its contents.
“There was a gun, but it wasn’t what we were expecting,” Hanson said.
The backpack contained a toy pistol still in its packaging, a plastic dinosaur, hot coco mix and a box of Ho-Hos with blue frosting.
After gathering the evidence, the bomb squad left campus by 10:30 a.m.
Once the backpack was accessed, Campus Security officers searched campus buildings for other suspicious backpacks or packages but found none.
An additional note found on the backpack included a cell phone number. University officials were able to find the student responsible for leaving the backpack and Hanson said disciplinary action will be coordinated through the dean of students. Hanson indicated that the toy pistol may be considered a violation of Drake’s no weapons policy.
Hanson said there would be no fees associated with the bomb squad visit and he does not expect DMPD will level charges against the student responsible for depositing the backpack.
Dana Schroeder-Davis (AS2) has claimed responsibility for the delinquent backpack. An avid reader of the blog MyLifeIsAverage.com, Schroeder-Davis said she simply intended for the bag to create a unique experience for someone and that they would write about it on the site.
“I thought ‘How cool would it be to try this on Drake’s campus,’” Schroeder-Davis said.
Once she came up with the idea for the backpack she went to Hy-Vee to purchase the random assortment of items later found inside. She then attached a note that read “For You” and inserted a note that read “Happy Random Day!” and her cell phone number. She deposited the backpack on the steps of Howard Hall at mid-night on Monday.
Schroeder-Davis said Campus Security Officers and Interim Director of Residence Life Lorissa Lieurance contacted her shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday. She was brought to the Campus Security Office where she explained the concept behind the backpack.
“What kind of world do we live in where a backpack with a weird note is taken this seriously,” Schroeder-Davis said. Although she viewed Campus Security and DMPD’s response as a slight over-reaction she appreciates their professionalism “because if it was a bomb they would have saved lives.”
Schroeder-Davis said she doesn’t yet know what, if any, punishment she will receive from the Dean of Students Office for leaving the backpack. She said security officers and bomb squad members she talked with all seemed to understand her intentions were not malicious.
Seemingly unfazed by the incident, Schroeder-Davis said she would be interested in trying to inject a random element into campus life again; but she is considering a change in strategy.
“Maybe next time I’ll skip the bag and just leave the dinosaur out in the open with the note attached,” she said.
Check out our breaking news updates for this story and additional photos
-”What kind of world do we live in where a backpack with a weird note is taken this seriously,” Schroeder-Davis said.-
It is called the Post-9/11 world.
-Although she viewed Campus Security and DMPD’s response as a slight over-reaction she appreciates their professionalism “because if it was a bomb they would have saved lives.”-
Isn’t that possibility the reason why they “overreact”?
Is it just me or does the phrase “create a unique experience for someone and that they would write about it on the site” the most illogical thing I’ve ever heard? Why would you assume that a) people read the site, which is a knockoff of FML, which is a knockoff of PostSecrets, which is 90% fake as it is, or b)that someone would even want to put on a website that they got cold Ho-Ho’s and a toy dinosaur from a random backpack, or c)that anyone cares enough in the first place to even look in the backpack or d)that no one is going to be frightened over an unmarked package left on a doorstep or e)that leaving your cell phone number is a good idea when doing something that will undoubtedly be illegal? I hope Schroeder-Davis gets expelled, or at least charged with something. This is unacceptable and embarrassing to the entire Drake community.
I applaud Dana for attempting to give a spark to someone’s day. But WOW to the previous post. Lighten up! “Unacceptable and embarrassing to the entire Drake community” !?! You can’t be serious. I am embarrassed for you. Please go to CNN.com and read news headlines across the world. People are being murdered and blown to pieces and all sorts of hate crime. A girl does a random act of kindness on campus for fun and it became a misunderstanding. It was nobody’s fault! “I hope Schroeder-Davis gets expelled, or at least charged with something” — Please Aaron, take up yoga and get over it. Your anger is unnecessary and ugly.
Attempting to add some fun to someone’s life is one thing, but to execute it so poorly that the city is made to waste valuable time and resources is definitely a bad thing. Being as unapologetic as she is makes it an epic FAIL.
And it was certainly her fault for not thinking it through.
Clearly, O anonymous one, you didn’t read right and you’ve clearly never have been in a bomb threat situation. I said it was unacceptable and embarrassing because it paints the entire campus in a bad light. I mean, if we have a person on campus thoughtless enough to do this, how must the rest of us be? This is how this is going to be seen. Middle schoolers do this kind of stuff all the time, you know.
Also, this is far from a random act of kindness. This is simply the crying out of an attention starved woman. If Dana really wanted to be kind, she could leave the toys in mailboxes or just flat out hand them to people. Dana didn’t want to be kind. She left her cell phone number in the backpack so she could be called by whomever got the toys. She wanted to feel good about herself. No kindness involved.
And, you are right. There are stories in the news about IEDs and bombings and all that horrible stuff. Which is why you don’t leave backpacks out in the open like that. That is the first thing people think of. My anger is fully justified, as a result.
Oh God forbid a backpack on campus…
Aaron-I feel like you’re overreacting. I don’t think she was trying to be thoughtless. Sometimes people try to do random things for random people for the fun of it. No age limit is attached to these actions that are intended to be harmless. If the people who responded to this situation (security, bomb squad, police department) were understanding of the situation why should she be charged with anything criminal? Why should she be expelled? You may think her actions were childish or thoughtless, but lighten up.
Well, you really can’t try to be thoughtless. You just are. Also, “random” is just a crutch for those who can’t figure out how to act like adults. Anyone who labels themselves or their actions as “random”, usually just wants attention or they just don’t know how to behave in normal situations. Cue Schroeder-Davis. She should be ashamed of this and I’m sure placing that backpack there fits some sort of crime, and I think it would be prudent to follow up on this fiasco with the fullest extent of the law, even if it is just probably a misdemeanor.
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