The justice system should deal harshly with the person or persons responsible for a string of bomb threats that have disrupted the main University of Pittsburgh campus.
The threats - including at least four on Monday, according to The Associated Press - have resulted in canceled classes, numerous building evacuations and new security procedures that limit access to campus facilities.
Some classes have been moved outside or online because of the threats.
The false alarms also have understandably unnerved students, parents and staff, created extra work and unnecessarily obstructed the educational process.
Even though the threats have proven unfounded so far, the university rightfully is taking each one seriously - alerting students, evacuating facilities and conducting searches.
Because of the violence that has occurred on college campuses and elsewhere, authorities cannot afford to let their guard down.
A number of area residents who are Pitt students talked with the Mirror for a story published Sunday on the impact of the string of threats, which includes not knowing when a class will be canceled and having to evacuate residence halls.
Ideally, those responsible for the threats should be charged and punished for each person - including students, professors, emergency responders, etc. - directly affected by bomb threats.
That could help send the message about the seriousness of such antics.
On Monday, the AP reported that university police, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service have a person of interest in the investigation. Because some of the threats have been emailed, experts say tracking down the responsible party or parties could be very difficult.
We hope authorities can accumulate the evidence to make an arrest and thoroughly prosecute the suspect or suspects in this barrage of bomb threats.
Those affected by these crimes deserve nothing less.
