Anthrax Problems at NJ Post Office Cause SAT Delays

The discovery of anthrax that closed two new Jersey post offices held up some important mail.<br><br>The College Board reports it never received the answer sheets of some 7800 students who took the SAT

Friday, November 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The discovery of anthrax that closed two new Jersey post offices held up some important mail.

The College Board reports it never received the answer sheets of some 7800 students who took the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), on October 13th.

Among them is Stigler High School student Leo Perry.

Leo Perry took the SAT at Eastern Oklahoma College in Wilburton last month, and feels he did very well.

But now, the Stigler Senior will have to take it over.

After hearing a report that some SAT answer sheets were held up by the closing of post offices in Trenton and Princeton New Jersey, he logged on to the College Board website.

Leo Perry, Student: "And they had a list of all the websites that hadn't received answer sheets from and Eastern Oklahoma was one of them, so I was pretty sure I was one of those affected."

Leo was at first bewildered to think that out of more than half a million students taking the SAT, he was among the one percent affected.

Leo Perry, Student: It's more of an inconvenience than anything, because I know taking it again probably won't affect my score that much."

Leo holds many leadership roles at Stigler High School... and was proud to receive the just arrived new letter jacket for All State Band Honors in tenor sax.

Leo says he's struck by all the ways the terror attacks have affected so many.

"Those events do have a very real impact on our lives, and you know, it seems absurd that it could reach to the SAT's. But it's kind of scary to think about what actually could happen and all the repercussions of those events."

Leo says considering that, having to retake the SAT is no big deal.

As for Leo's college plans, he is applying to Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, M.I.T., Rice and a little closer to home - the University of Oklahoma.