Dear Editor,
We are not paid enough to be sacrificial victims, and we are
not trained to be a bomb squad.
On Dec 5. one of the staff working in the
found a bomb.
The bomb was a propane tank strapped with nails and shotgun
cartridges. We were extremely worried for the well-being of all our research
staff and animal technicians that might have been harmed if the bomb had
exploded. We are relieved that all ended well.
As the crisis abated, however, our relief turned to outrage.
As we realized how our employer had dealt with the threat, UCSD received a bomb
threat from an animal-rights group on the evening of Dec. 4 and again on the
morning of Dec. 5.
Rather than calling for trained bomb experts to thoroughly
investigate the threat and warn all the staff working in the building, the
animal technicians were just told to keep their eyes out for anything
suspicious.
Sheer luck avoided what could have been a massive
humanitarian catastrophe leaving many injured or even dead.
That administrators at UCSD value our lives so little truly
astounds and grieves us.
We demand an investigation and consequences for the
supervisors and administrators that failed to warn employees first thing this
morning and call in the appropriate authorities.
Our animal technicians are among the lowest-paid and
hardest-working employees on campus. They have a true dedication to the
wellbeing of the animals under their care.
They deserve better, as do the rest of the staff in the
building.
— Carolan Buckmaster
President, UC Professional and Technical Employees Local 9
