Volume CXXXIII, Number 6 October 19, 2001 f

Mailroom wary of anthrax threat
JAMES FISHER
SENIOR EDITOR

In the Smith Union mailroom, policy responses to the threat of anthrax have been measured.

Supervisor Amy Donohue said that rubber gloves are now available for mailroom workers to wear when handling mail.

"Some have used them, some haven't," she said.

U.S. Postal Service guidelines for handling suspicious packages have already been posted in the mailroom, and incoming mail is being kept away from the window into Smith Union where students pick up packages.

Donohue said that in a Wednesday meeting, a Portland postal inspector assured her that all the anthrax scares in the city's mail system have been hoaxes.

An email sent to the entire campus provided a link to the following Bowdoin policy:

As reported daily by the news media during the past week, there is mounting concern about the use of Anthrax in terrorism incidents around the country. Employees at several media outlets and political offices have tested positive for Anthrax after handling or being exposed to suspicious pieces of mail. While there is no reason to believe that Bowdoin students or employees are the target of such attacks, members of the campus community are urged to follow simple precautions if they receive suspicious or questionable envelopes or packages in the mail. It is important to remember that Anthrax is generally treatable with antibiotics and is not contagious. This page offers information on Anthrax, safety and contact information, and links to useful external resources on this subject.
An email sent to the entire campus linked to the following Bowdoin policy:

If you receive a suspicious letter or package:

1. Do not try to open the package. If there is spilled powder, do not try to clean it up.
2. Isolate the package and evacuate the immediate area
3. Wash hands and exposed skin with soap and water.
4. Call Security at x3500 and give them your exact location.
5. Security will contact local, state, and federal authorities as appropriate.

There are indicators that a package may be suspicious:

-Restrictive markings - the words "personal" or "private"
-Misspelled words
-Badly typed or written name and address
-Excessive postage
-Addressed to title only - President or Director not followed by a name
-Postmark city different from return address city
-Fictitious, unfamiliar or no return address
-Wrong title with name
-Protruding wires
-Oil stains
-Strange odors
-A letter that is rigid or bulky or a package that is lopsided
-The words "Fragile - handle with care" or "Rush - do not delay"