By Kelly Whitside
On October 9 at approximately 4 pm, a bomb threat was called in to Vancouver Island University’s International High School. 75 people were evacuated from buildings 345 and 350. The campus remained closed to all, including buses and students living in residence, until 5:30 pm.
Students in class described being startled when a man in a hardhat demanded they evacuate immediately and assemble down the hill in Lot G, according to Philip Gordon, a Creative Writing student who was in a poetry class at the time.
Vehicle access to the Nanaimo Parkway via Fifth St. was blocked at Wakesiah St., and Fourth St. was closed as well. Nanaimo RCMP conducted a search of the area with a Services Dog and found nothing suspicious.
Students were angry about the interruption to class time and exams, said Antony Stevens, another student whose class was interupted, noting that they pay a lot of money to attend VIU. He also expressed concern for the safety of children attending Malaspina Day Care Centre.
