University of Michigan student not laughing at TSA prank
A 22-year old University of Michigan student was shocked into tears this month after a Transportation Security Administration employee pulled a baggie of white powder from her computer case and asked "Where did you get this from?"
Rebecca Solomon had no idea. Because the airport security screener was playing a joke on her.
"As I emotionally tried to explain that I couldn't explain, he started to smile, an odd reaction to such a monumental find in my things," Solomon wrote in a Jan. 10 Michigan Daily editorial. "Then he waved the baggie at me and told me he was kidding, that I should’ve seen the look on my face."
The incident occurred Jan. 5 at Philadelphia International Airport as Solomon was returning to school from winter break.
Her account has since been verified and picked up by several dozen media outlets across the country. A TSA spokeperson told the Detroit Free Press the employee is no longer working for the TSA.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
katie
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
What about the new scanners that will show people nude? You can't tell me that theses same "bored" employees won't be violating all the protocols that they are supposed to be putting in place. Do you want to go through security scanners only to have some nincompoop making crude comments and violating your privacy. Do you want your teenaged daughter going through and having some crude person looking at her and making comments? Will they capture these photos (apparently there's a way this can be done via computer settings) and post them on the internet? This guy should not only be fired, but also prosecuted. Likewise the people training and supervising him should be disciplined. On the plus side, the TSA personnel in Portland, OR are some of the most courteous, respectful, and upbeat I've seen. They actually make you feel welcome to their airport rather than like some kind of criminal for taking a plane. Perhaps we should study what they are doing right. Some of the other posters were asking whether people wanted to pay a lot for this service. I think it's nonsense to have people take their shoes off and also the scanners. When I drive to work I'm in much more danger than from terrorists. It's all psychological B.S., we've been made to feel terrified, more by our government, by the patriot act, than by the acts of terror themselves.
voiceofreason
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 9:25 p.m.
"Mike" sounds like just the individual I would like to give lifetime tenure to for airline safety......
mike
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
To the person who said lets Unionize them so they cant get fired has no idea what would happened to this so called officer. I would have fired him no matter union or not because he violated the law. The reason TSA needs a union is so like other federal jobs We do have some right but right now we have no rights. Mangement can change rules at there whim. We are looking for explosives and we get backing for mangement. This employee should have been ecorted right out of the airport.
dogpaddle
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.
Prank or no prank, why are drugs even an issue? I thought TSA's job is to be keeping our traveling safe and looking for bombs. I hope any K-9s at the airport (which are very expensive by the way) and are only trained to sniff one item are there to sniff for potential explosives, not drugs. I have no problem sitting next to someone on a plane who has weed or even cocaine, but have no desire to be sitting next to someone who is about to explode their testicles off and take every one else down with them. As a taxpaying citizen, TSA's focus BETTER be bombs, not drugs.
walker101
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
Believe or not the TSA positions are almost the lowest paid Federal Employees positions available. Many are retirees or young students who need a part-time job while attending school or pick extra cash, it pays a little over minimum wage for starters. You get what you pay for, so don't expect a professional type security screener, comes with the pay.
clownfish
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
cpshan--- Actually, if one does some research one will find that it is not only "the left" that has issues with the so-called Patriot Act. Many civil libertarians on the right have just as many issues with the laws enshrined after hours of debate by a frightened congress. Bruce Fein, Reagans AG, and Gen Hoar come quickly to mind.
unclemercy
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
aha, i get it. cocaine aha. that stuff is hilarious. you should see the look on my face. this story would be better with photos.
clownfish
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
We get what we pay for. People want "security" on the cheap. It amuses me that so many of the people that scream about terrorism are the ones that also don't want minimum wage, or well paid govt employees. See: comment about unionization. Make up your minds people, do you want security or cheap help. If you think terrorism is a real and present danger, which civil liberties are YOU willing to sacrifice? How much more are you willing to pay on your air ticket to get better employees? This was a stupid prank, glad to hear there was action from the TSA.
MichiganFan
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.
That's really messed up. Maybe I missed something, but isn't it against the law for her to have made any kind of joke about carrying something to the TSA person. It's good to hear the TSA person is no longer working for the TSA.
Bob W
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 6:31 a.m.
This along with other recent incidents involving gov't employees (failure to ID Christmas terrorist, use of Spanish resident's photo as Osama's believed current appearance, etc.) would suggest the gov't job postings must include something to the affect that only the stupid need apply.
MICHAEL C.
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 11:24 p.m.
All I can say is If he had pulled that prank on me I would have just punched him right in the mouth!!!!
Old Salt
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 10:51 p.m.
That's outragous, that person should be charged with something and fired That was not funny
Ricebrnr
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 9:03 p.m.
Right...and us regular guys can't even whisper bomb as a joke to each other without getting hauled away. Throw the book at him.
Dot
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.
Power-tripper. Actually, kind of scary that an idiot like that could wreck havoc on someone's life.
tdw
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 6:47 p.m.
I bet she's cute and this idiot thought he was flirting with her
aanative
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 6:12 p.m.
Many of the TSA employees have recently been hired, and are just regular folks in uniforms. Probably bored by monotonous work. One time as I stumbled thru security screenings, trying to collect my shoes, electronics, purse, and carryon, I realized I couldn't find my ticket. I scrambled around until finally this jerk TSA "screener" produced my ticket which he had taken from the table top.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 4:35 p.m.
pure stupidity.
81wolverine
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.
Guess they need to raise their hiring standards a few notches at the TSA. With all the good, qualified people looking for work right now, they should weed out these types of imbeciles. I've not been very impressed with some of the TSA people I've encountered at various airports. Although, thank goodness, no one pulled anything like that on me.