Students expressed concern Monday after officials did not inform the University community of a bomb threat that closed the Student Learning Center for two hours.

“Since Virginia Tech, I think we should have been forewarned that it was just a threat and sent another e-mail that nothing was found,” said Susan Bell, a sophomore from Athens.

Vice President for Public Affairs Tom Jackson told The Red & Black the incident was not reported to students because it was isolated and not an imminent threat.

“Everyone who was involved had been notified, and the situation was being handled,” Jackson said. “If something had been found, of course we would have sent an advisory.”

Bomb threats usually were not reported to the community in the past because they spawn copy cat incidents, he said.

The University tested in September UGA Alert, an emergency notification system that sends out text messages, e-mails and calls to its registered users when triggered by administrators. The system was not used Monday.

“We only want to use UGA Alert when there is an incident that can’t be contained and everyone needs to take action,” University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said. “If we used it for everything, people would not pay as close attention. The system is effective when it causes you to hit a level and take it seriously.”

Williamson said Breon Releford, a senior from Conyers, was walking into the Lumpkin side of the building when a male student told him there was a bomb inside. Releford told SLC security who called University Police at 8:10 a.m.

Police described the person who stated there was a bomb in the building as a man between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, with shoulder-length blond hair and wearing a red shirt and jeans at the time.

“If anyone knows him or had a class where there was a test or paper due, please let us know,” he said. “This person unnecessarily caused fears and concerns when society already is troubled.”

Spanish instructor Anne Rutter Sekanina stood outside the building with her morning classes.

“My class was reviewing for a test when an SLC staff member walked in around 8:30 and said we needed to stay calm but evacuate because of an emergency situation. We all got up and walked out but had no idea what was really going on,” she said.

Police were posted at entrances and informed students they could not enter. The first officer and police dog went inside at 8:58 a.m., and a second arrived at 9:34 a.m.

“We took the normal action for this situation,” said Florence King, director of the SLC. “I hope it’s nothing, but we have to take it seriously.”

Students called others on cell phones or stood with classmates outside on the sidewalk, waiting for the building to reopen.

The K-9 units left the SLC at 10:30 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. Police opened the building as the police cars left at 10:40 a.m.

“Nothing was found, otherwise we’d push people back farther and bring in the bomb truck,” Williamson said.

To discourage copy cats and a light-hearted approach to the incident, Williamson said his job doesn’t stop after the building is cleared.

“We are taking this seriously, and that’s why we’re looking into it,” he said. “If police find the person who announced the bomb threat, we will arrest him.”

University Police can be contacted at 706-542-5813.