Speaks Out

With the recent outbreak of anthrax around the country,
do you still feel safe from a major bioterrorist attack while
living in a big city like Los Angeles? Henry
Frometa Third-year Political science “I still feel
safe in L.A. It doesn’t really seem like a big threat because
they’ve been minor cases. They’ve been hitting targets
that are more prominent than us. The quantity is so small,
it’s almost like a warning that they’re hinting that
they have more. It could also be someone trying to instill this
fear, even if it’s not really substantial.”
Kelly Lowry Fifth-year Psychobiology “You
can worry about it, but it’s not going to do any good. All
you can do is be cautious and be more aware of what’s around
you. Right now, I think it’s relatively contained and
it’s not a big problem, but we’ll see what happens in
the coming days and weeks. But for right now, I still feel pretty
safe. It seems like it’s more calculated, that they’re
trying to go after specific people, which is why I feel like
it’s not a major threat (to us) right now.”
Lloyd del Mundo Second-year Chemistry “I
don’t think it’s that much of a threat, because anthrax
isn’t that strong. There’s cures for anthrax ““
people are getting treated right now for it in New York and
Florida. I’m totally afraid of the bioterrorism, but not
necessarily anthrax. You can use other chemicals that are much more
dangerous and much more harmful.” Mary
Borovilos Third-year Sociology “I’m not scared
of (a bioterrorist attack.) I don’t feel threatened because I
don’t think the terrorists are going to send me a letter
personally. It worries me that there have been outbreaks, but
we’re not sure if it’s really terrorists. I think
someone’s playing a joke, that someone’s trying to
scare us. It might not even be terrorist-related at all.”
Nicole Newcomb Third-year Political science
“I don’t feel safe. I think that anything can happen
now. I think when we least expect it, something’s going to
happen. I have some faith in our government (to protect us) but
it’s not 100 percent. I think everybody has fear, and if
something happens then something happens. You just have to live
on.” Salina Wu Third-year Chemical
engineering “I still feel safe because you kind of think that
it’s not going to happen here. But in reality, it probably
might. I think that because we’re being more cautious,
we’ll be OK. But I just don’t really think about it
because you feel like it will never happen to you.” Speaks
out compiled by Edward Chiao, Daily Bruin Senior Staff. Photos by
Rosette Gonzales, Daily Bruin Contributor.