False alarm at Union sends several hundred into the rain

Steve Holland, director of the University of Arizona's Department of Risk Management and Safety, said yesterday that it was unknown exactly what caused the alarm to go off about 12:20 p.m., but procedure dictates that buildings be evacuated first and questions answered later.

"It usually doesn't take investigators very long to find out if there's nothing wrong," Holland said.

The Tucson Fire Department responded to the alarm, but hardly stopped before driving away when it was discovered that it was a false alarm. A UA employee taking advantage of the break to have a cigarette said she had seen a woman pull a fire alarm at an exit near the Student Union's Arizona Gallery.

The employee, who would only identify herself as a Union Club caterer, said she saw a woman pull the fire alarm and shout, "I accidentally pulled the fire alarm. What am I supposed to do?"

The woman the employee pointed out was walking around near the Union's northeast exit minutes after the alarm sounded but refused to answer questions.

"Leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you," she told reporters.

Holland said it is a misdemeanor offense to pull a fire alarm for no reason, and that anybody caught doing so could also be referred to the Dean of Students' Office for a Code of Conduct violation.

Some students tried to seek shelter in various nooks and crannies around the Union building, hoping to temporarily escape yesterday's midday downpour.

"I don't think it's necessary to evacuate the whole building," said Marshall Coker, a psychology junior. "They should first send someone from building administration to evaluate before evacuating."

While eating a soggy taco salad over a trash can on the UA Mall, Joyce Meder, Campus Health Services clinic administrator, defended the evacuation policies.

"This may not be fun, but being in a burning building would be a lot less fun."

Students and staff were able to return to the Union after waiting outside about 20 minutes.