BLACKSBURG -- Ashley Bagley woke up Monday morning worried that she wouldn't like her biology class, her first as a Virginia Tech student.

Biology class was fine.

The rest of the day was filled with rumors, frantic phone calls and a campus-wide "lockdown" resulting from the manhunt for shooting suspect William Morva.

For Bagley and some 25,000 other Virginia Tech students, the first day of the 2006-07 school year was something they'll talk about for years.

"There's already a Facebook group, 'Tech '06: Duck and Cover,' " said Tech sophomore Justin Brons.

More than a dozen Facebook groups about Morva sprang up Monday as students began to discuss the escaped inmate. Groups ranged from the basic -- "Have you seen Morva?" to the silly -- "Jack Bauer would have caught Morva faster," referring to the television show "24."

Brons said two of his friends left campus as soon as they heard about Morva being seen nearby and wouldn't come back until he was found. Some girls wouldn't go to the nearby dining hall without an escort.

Freshman Blake Burlage and her roommate Melody Burrus kept their door locked. While they spent the sunny afternoon inside, their lunch escort, freshman Thomas Wallace, played volleyball outside.

Mark Cramer

Armed officer was on guard at Washington Street with the arches of Tech's Cassell Colisium in the background.

The university had sent out a warning Sunday about Morva's escape, but after Monday's shooting most students were still going about their business, going to classes and getting coffee at Squires Student Center until about 10 a.m. Amid reports that someone fitting Morva's description was inside Squires, the building was evacuated. Rumors spread quickly.

As students milled around Squires, an employee charged out of the building yelling "get back" and set off a stampede that sent students and staff running about 100 yards. Officers with rifles took up positions on nearby roofs and behind bushes around the building. Word of a hostage situation spread across campus.

There was never a hostage, and students were told to go home and stay inside residence halls if they lived on campus. Classes were canceled and employees sent home.

There were reports that Morva was inside the East Campbell residence hall. Other people said they saw him running across the Drillfield.

Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said none of the on-campus sightings of Morva could be confirmed.

The commotion ended as quickly as it had begun. Less than 20 minutes after Morva's capture was announced, the Drillfield was filled with students throwing discs and kicking soccer balls.

Patrick Weber, a sophomore transfer student from Buffalo, tried to sum up the hectic seven hours.

"It's a hell of a first day."