UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two Penn State University students face serious criminal charges following a social media threat that aimed to disrupt a final exam in December.
On December 16, an alarming post appeared on Yik Yak, a location-based social media app, suggesting a bomb was planted in the Forum Building, accompanied by a threat to “shoot this place up,” reports Onward State. The post was traced back to 18-year-old Madeline C. Steczkowski, who allegedly made the threat after her roommate, Carolyn E. Kahn, expressed anxiety over an upcoming exam in the building.
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Authorities, including Penn State University Police, State College Police, Ferguson Township Police, and the FBI, responded swiftly to the threat. A comprehensive search of the building revealed no explosives or weapons, and no evidence suggested Steczkowski or Kahn had access to firearms or bomb-making knowledge.
Motivations Behind the Yik Yak Threat Against Penn State and Legal Consequences
During police interviews, Steczkowski reportedly confessed to posting the threat to help her roommate avoid the exam, with Kahn allegedly agreeing to pay her $10 for the act, reports StateCollege.com. Kahn, however, told investigators she advised against the threat, fearing it would be taken seriously. Steczkowski said she didn’t think the threat would be taken seriously, despite the fact that the Brown University mass shooting had occurred just a few days earlier.
Both students now face four counts of terroristic threats causing serious public inconvenience, a charge that carries a potential five-year prison sentence. Steczkowski faces additional charges, including threats to use weapons of mass destruction and conspiracy.
The Growing Impact of Hoax Threats and Swatting on U.S. Campuses
This incident is part of a troubling trend of hoax threats plaguing U.S. colleges, creating significant financial and resource burdens for educational institutions and law enforcement. Last fall saw a marked increase in such threats, raising concerns about campus safety and the effectiveness of current preventative measures.
