NIU on alert due to threats on restroom wall

Breaking news. Everybody be safe this finals week:

Campus Alert

Police investigate anonymous threat in residence hall

12/9/07 9:30 p.m. UPDATE

Anyone wanting to speak with a staff member may do so by dialing any of these three numbers until midnight tonight and beginning again at 7:30 a.m. on Monday:

• (815) 753-1573
• (815) 753-1585
• (815) 753-6257

While final exams will proceed as scheduled, NIU officials are urging faculty to accommodate student concerns and allow make-up scheduling of exams later in the week as needed. Students who wish to schedule make-up exams should make arrangements directly with individual faculty.

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12/9/07 6:45 p.m.

NIU officials are investigating a threat posted late Saturday evening in a campus residence hall which included a racial slur and references to the Virginia Tech shootings.

Written in black ink on a restroom wall in the Grant Towers D complex were two separate entries claiming that “things will change most hastily” in the final days of the current semester.

“Tell those n---ers to go home,” the first entry reads. “ME / OUT … Die Sem Burr 10th … Hmz Sdn Cr.” Officials believe the text message-style shorthand refers to “December 10” and “Holmes Student Center.” Underlined letters within the first entry spell out the word “WATCH.”

Following the initial entry is a second set of comments reading “What time? The VA tech shooters messed up w/ having only one shooter …”

University leaders notified all students, faculty and staff about the threats through postings on the NIU website, all-campus email, voicemail, fliers and area news media. Security in and around the residence halls, student center and other campus buildings has also been increased, and the campus remains under a security alert through the end of the semester.

Additional communications and offers of assistance for students, faculty, staff and visitors will continue throughout the week. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available on the university website at www.niu.edu.

“My primary concern is for the safety of all members of our campus community, and to that end, we will err on the side of caution in all our actions,” said NIU President John Peters. “We will not tolerate threats against individuals or groups,” Peters said, “nor will we tolerate ‘hate speech’ of any type on this campus.”

Final exams will proceed as scheduled, and university officials said students and staff should remain “calm but vigilant.” Anyone with information about the threats are urged to contact the NIU Tipline at (815) 753-TIPS (8477), or their local Crimestoppers or law enforcement agency.