By Emerson Clarridge

Nassau Hall was evacuated Wednesday morning when the Nassau County police bomb squad responded to a report of a suspicious device in a trash can. No one was injured in the incident.A University employee was emptying a trashcan at 7:55 a.m. when it started smoking, said Melissa Connolly, vice president of University Relations.”A young lady apparently had a hand-held fire extinguisher,” said public safety Director Ed Bracht.”When the janitor wrapped up the garbage he dropped it on the ground, breaking the extinguisher and non-toxic, non-harmful potassium dust began to emanate from it,” Bracht said.The fire department was unable to initially determine the source of the smoke and the bomb squad was called to the scene, he said.The scare sent hundreds of groggy students outside into the cool morning.Freshman Ariel Kelman was brushing her teeth when the alarm went off.She went for a smoothie at the Student Center, and returned to find the dorm was still evacuated.She missed her 9:05 a.m. Oral Communications class because her books were locked inside her fourth-floor room.”It was the last day of class and I was missing my freaking Oral Comm. class,” Kelman said.Sophomore David Beede’s plans were also altered by the incident.”I wanted to go to the city, and I couldn’t because I couldn’t get back into the building. And I was hungry and I kind of had to pee,” Beede said.Additional reporting was contributed by staff writers Julia Gardiner and Brendan O’Reilly.