Classes, activities at Univ. of Chicago Hyde Park campus cancelled Monday due to "online threat"
CHICAGO -- One of the nation's top universities called off classes on the first day students are due back from the Thanksgiving holiday because of an online threat.
The University of Chicago said all classes and activities are canceled Monday after the FBI passed on an online threat of gun violence on the campus quad at 10 a.m. Monday.
The decision, which the FBI says the university made, could affect more than 30,000 students, faculty and staff who work on the Hyde Park campus south of downtown Chicago.
Students who live on campus are advised to stay indoors. The only facility that remains open is the medical center, which will treat patients but have added security.
The following is the letter issued to the campus community on Sunday by University of Chicago officials:
Date: November 29, 2015
To: University of Chicago Campus Community
From: Robert J. Zimmer
Subject: Monday Classes and Activities at Hyde Park Campus Canceled Due to Threat
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.
In addition to canceling all classes and events at the Hyde Park campus, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, the University libraries, the Quadrangle Club, and other campus facilities will be closed on Monday. The University of Chicago Medical Center will remain open to patients, with added security measures. Student Health and Counseling Services will be closed; students may consult csl.uchicago.edu for additional information. Medical Center faculty and staff involved in patient care will receive additional details later this evening.
All University staff and faculty members who do not have emergency duties or patient care responsibilities are encouraged to avoid coming to the Hyde Park campus on Monday. Individuals with questions about their status should contact their immediate supervisors. We will provide updates at the University homepage, www.uchicago.edu, as more information becomes available, with the expectation of resuming normal University operations on Tuesday.
If you see anything unusual or have urgent questions about security measures, please contact the Unersity of Chicago Police Department at 773-702-8181. Students living on campus who are seeking additional information should contact their resident heads.