The anthrax scare earlier this month at Linton Hall shows that public safety workers must work with extreme sensitivity as they respond to possible biological or chemical terrorism acts.

A university employee opened a suspicious letter Oct. 12 from an animal rights activist. Police later said no hazardous substances were found, but the damage had already been done.

After the faculty building was evacuated, 15 MSU employees who were feared contaminated by the letter were forced to strip in the building and then sprayed with a chemical that would have killed any bacteria remaining on their skin.

The situation, not surprisingly, left some people with privacy concerns.

It’s important that anyone faced with the possibility of being exposed to anthrax is respected by safety workers - no one deserves to be victimized twice.

But we must also understand members of the East Lansing Fire Department, which performed the decontamination, had only good intentions. At a time of potential crisis, they had to improvise procedures in a hall without a private shower facility.

Officials are looking into the purchase of a privacy tent, but the $25,000 cost is an issue. The tent would allow people more individual space during decontamination procedures.

If money can be found in the budget for a tent, it will be worth every cent. Unfortunately, precautions like this are most likely to be necessary again.

There is no doubt the East Lansing Fire Department and other agencies are doing the best job they can to insure our safety, but people are not accustomed to stripping in the middle of a hall in front of strangers and those needs should be kept in mind.

Safety is the No. 1 issue, but sensitivity is a close second and should not be overlooked.