Alert from campus police

Class, given our talk about safety this morning with Cpt. John Brandt, I thought you'd be interested to see this press release he put out at 1:21 p.m. today, as a crime alert. This is the verbatem transcript:

"CAMPUS ALERT, July 31, 2008

"There have been several reliable sightings of an animal fitting the description of a cougar on the campus. The description of the sighted cat is: light tan and tawny brown, about 4 feet long with a 4 foot tail, and weighing about 50 pounds. Several sightings have been reported from the area of Cole Field House, near the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and continuing through the wooded areas to the area of the Comcast Center and Arena Drive Garage. There has been no report of
aggressive behavior on the part of the animal, but community members are warned that cougars are a predatory species and that, if seen, the animal should not be approached.

"If you see the animal, please contact the university police at 301-405-3555. University police are working with other agencies to remove the animal from the campus area."

It would have made a great little story this morning, wouldn't it?

And beyond that -- please be careful today!