Last week two separate homemade chemical devices exploded outside dorms. While no one was injured, Campus Security and Student Life are investigating the explosions.
“My expectation is that this is a misplaced joke,” said Brenda Roth, Dean of Students. Despite her hope that no harm was intended, Roth believes that creating and using these devices is inappropriate.
“’It made sense at the time’ is not a good enough excuse,” she said. “It’s not a joke that anyone has a position to play.”
Neither of the devices involved flame or flying pieces. The first device campus security learned about was found outside of PVG, and was reported by students around 2 a.m. Monday March 14. Information they received during this investigation led security staff to believe that another device had exploded between Balyo and Davidson the week before. The explosions were based on a chemical reaction which was potentially harmful if it splashed onto people according to Roth.
Seth Elliott, Corban’s new Executive Manager of Security, says that they will continue to “collaborate with on and off campus partners about viable options, and explore interventions ranging from ongoing monitoring to casual conversation to criminal charges.”
“This is an educational moment,” said Roth. She said the students responsible for the explosion will not be dismissed if they meant no harm. “There is no anger up here—I just want to sit down and have eye contact and make sure they understand the broader picture.”
Roth understands that some students may feel administrators are overreacting, but she points to not-so-ancient campus violence coverage nationally to explain their investigation. “I know we’re different,” she said. “But we can’t say those things don’t apply because we’re Christians.”