Penn State Police Services were called to investigate a series of newspaper articles about this week's terrorist attacks found on a table in Atherton Hall yesterday. The documents advocated retaliation against those responsible for Tuesday's events in New York and Washington, D.C.

Julie Ritchie (freshman-nutrition) was one of the students who came across the display. Along with the articles, she saw a sign encouraging onlookers to take a black string "and wear it with pride." Ritchie said the string was to be worn as a bracelet, adding that the stories promoted action that was not "peaceful or on a small scale."

"The tone of the whole thing was really aggressive and hateful," she said. "I am surprised that people would be so hostile."

By noon, the fliers had been removed from the table, and shortly after, Cheryl Achterberg, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, sent out an e-mail to students in the college. In the statement, she said she was "concerned" about the morning's events.

"Expressions of intolerance and hate were found in the lobby this morning and some students have been verbally abused," Achterberg said in the statement. "It is extremely important that we not let any residents in our community feel frightened or excluded."

"I am glad (the dean) did something about it," Ritchie said. "I was surprised that some students in the hall were being targeted verbally."

Penn State Police Officer Randy Hoffman, who is investigating the incident, said the articles were opinion pieces from publications including the New York Post, Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal. He said last night that he had not read through all of the stories, but what he had seen did not indicate any illegal activity or a violation of the university's code of conduct.

"At this time, I haven't found anything criminal," Hoffman said.

He said the articles did not call for attacks on any specific group.

"I'm not seeing anything here that's attacking any ethnic or religious group," Hoffman said.

Achterberg's office referred all questions to the police. Hoffman asked that anyone with more information about the display contact him at 814-863-1111.