Classes At University Of Chicago Cancelled Due To Online Threat Of A Campus Shooting

Students returning to the University of Chicago from their Thanksgiving respite were greeted with the unpleasant news on Sunday that all classes for Monday have been cancelled due to yet another threat of gun violence on a college campus.

From the University of Chicago’s Web site

The University was informed by FBI counterterrorism officials today (Sunday) that an unknown individual posted an online threat of gun violence against the University of Chicago, specifically mentioning “the campus quad” on Monday morning at 10 a.m. Based on the FBI’s assessment of this threat and recent tragic events at other campuses across the country, we have decided in consultation with federal and local law enforcement officials, to exercise caution by canceling all classes and activities on the Hyde Park campus through midnight on Monday. All non-medical faculty, students and non-essential staff are asked not to come to the Hyde Park campus on Monday, or to remain indoors as much as possible if they are on campus. Students in College Housing are asked to stay indoors and await direct communication from College Housing Staff.

In response to the threat, the University will have an increased police and security presence on and around campus, including police personnel with visible weapons and other additional measures. University security personnel are keeping in close contact with the FBI, which is continuing to investigate the threat.

It was just a few weeks ago that a similar threat was made at Arizona State University, but thankfully it turned out to be nothing more than a 12-year-old boy in Canada basically being an idiot. Let’s hope this threat in Chicago turns out to be just as harmless.

Photo: Jannis Tobias Werner / Shutterstock.com