All-Clear Sounded At Old Main; Package Identified As Class Project

Reports of a suspicious package on the Old Main patio rattled the University Park campus this afternoon, prompting police to cordon off the area about 1:30 p.m. An alert sent via text message told the public to avoid the area.

But the package turned out to be a class project — a conductivity meter — mistakenly left behind by a high school student, Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.

She said the teenager had left the package there by mistake when his or her group gathered for photos in front of Old Main.

The group was part of a summer camp put on by the university’s Eberly College of Science, Powers said. She said the device stirred concern in part because it had a number of wires visible.

The university bomb squad responded to the scene, though Old Main was not formally evacuated.

By 2 p.m., officials had removed the yellow ‘caution’ tape surrounding the front entrance to Old Main, and the scene returned to normal. The university sent a text alert about 2 p.m. to give the all-clear.