University of Chicago Calls off Classes Over Online Threat

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/university-of-chicago-gun-threat_565bcd68e4b072e9d1c23da7

Gun Threat Prompts Class Cancelation At University Of Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — The University of Chicago canceled all classes and activities scheduled for Monday on its main campus following an online threat of gun violence passed on by the FBI.

The university said in a statement Sunday night that an online threat from an unknown person mentioned the campus quad, a popular gathering place, and a time of Monday morning at 10 a.m.

"It was pretty specific in terms of time and place," university spokesman Jeremy Manier said.

Faculty, students and non-essential staff were asked to stay away from the Hyde Park campus on Chicago's South Side Monday, the statement said. Students in college housing on campus should stay indoors.

The university said the decision was taken after taking into account "recent tragic events" at other campuses across the country and consulting with federal and local law enforcement authorities.

"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," it said.

Last month, a gunman opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, killing nine people. Shootings have also happened recently on campuses in Arizona and Tennessee.

Manier said the cancellation of classes and activities would affect more than 30,000 people including both undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.

The University of Chicago Medical Center will remain open to patients with added security, the university said. The Medical Center has nearly 7,500 staff.

University of Chicago is one of the leading teaching and research institutions in the nation. It was No. 4 in the 2015 U.S. News and World Report ranking of best universities behind only Princeton, Harvard and Yale.

[Jay Bee]

I fear this is only the start of a new, sad reality. Imagine when sporting events start being canceled.

Economically it'll be crippling. For some, emotionally it'll be crippling. Scary times ahead!

[ChicosBailBonds]

I fear this is only the start of a new, sad reality. Imagine when sporting events start being canceled.

Economically it'll be crippling. For some, emotionally it'll be crippling. Scary times ahead!

Our leaders got this....have faith

[Tugg Speedman]

I fear this is only the start of a new, sad reality. Imagine when sporting events start being canceled.

Economically it'll be crippling. For some, emotionally it'll be crippling. Scary times ahead!

Sporting events

Church services

Business districts

Shopping districts

Concerts

Parades

Museums

Airports

and on and on and on

[GooooMarquette]

Sad and scary, indeed.  The terrorists win, even without a single gunshot or explosion. 

[brandx]

You guys are nuts. Climb out from under your beds and start living.

If you want to be scared of something, STOP EATING!!! There is a much, much greater chance of choking on your dinners than there is of you dying from terrorism.


Here's the funny part. All of you fearful little boys who have posted so far are all righties. Gives me a little more perspective about why Bush and all of his warmonger buddies dodging the Vietnam War.

[LloydsLegs]

Suspect in custody

[Henry Sugar]

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Fortunately that's all that died today

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Looks like it's some 21 year old UIC student. Not sure if he had weapons, actual intent. Either way that's almost a life-ended for that guy. Not a lot of positive paths forward after that.

[mr.MUskie]

A 21 year-old was charged in connection with a "threat of violence" at University of Chicago that prompted school officials to cancel classes Monday.
Jabari Dean, who has been identified as a University of Illinois at Chicago student, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago said in a statement. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Dean is scheduled to make an appearance at 3 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox.
The attorney's office said an email address linked to Dean was used to post a threat that read: "I will execute aproximately (sic) 16 white male students and or staff, which is the same number of time (sic) Mcdonald (sic) was killed."

The threat had been posted Saturday, only days after the city released a video of Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times.
“We are monitoring this situation closely and are concerned about the impact this has had on our campus and the University of Chicago,” UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis said in a statement.

Classes at University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus were canceled Monday after someone posted an online threat of gun violence, according to the University.
President Robert Zimmer sent a letter to the campus community Sunday to announce the cancellation of all classes and activities on the Hyde Park campus through midnight on Monday.

In the letter, which was also posted online, Zimmer wrote that the university was informed by FBI counterterrorism officials that someone posted a threat of gun violence online. The individual reportedly mentioned specifically “the campus quad” on Monday morning at 10 a.m., according to the letter.
“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,” Zimmer wrote.

All non-medical faculty, students and non-essential staff are asked not to come to the Hyde Park campus on Monday. The letter also asked those who will be on campus to remain indoors as much as possible, including students in College Housing.
The University of Chicago will have an increased police presence on and around the campus, according to President Zimmer. U of C security personnel are working closely with the FBI, which is continuing to investigate the threat.

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, the University libraries, the Quadrangle Club, and other campus facilities were closed on Monday.
The University of Chicago Medical Center remained open with added security measures, according to the University.

The school expects to resume normal university operations on Tuesday.
Anyone who sees anything unusual should contact University of Chicago Police at 773-702-8181.


Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Person-in-Custody-in-Connection-to-Online-Threat-That-Canceled-Classes-at-UofC-358916911.html#ixzz3t19VxQdW
Follow us: @nbcchicago on Twitter | nbcchicago on Facebook

[GooooMarquette]

You guys are nuts. Climb out from under your beds and start living.

If you want to be scared of something, STOP EATING!!! There is a much, much greater chance of choking on your dinners than there is of you dying from terrorism.

Here's the funny part. All of you fearful little boys who have posted so far are all righties. Gives me a little more perspective about why Bush and all of his warmonger buddies dodging the Vietnam War.

The scary part I was referring to wasn't the terrorism...it was the fact the mere threat could cause a university to shut down.

But yeah, go on stereotyping, even though you had no idea what some of us were referring to.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

You guys are nuts. Climb out from under your beds and start living.

If you want to be scared of something, STOP EATING!!! There is a much, much greater chance of choking on your dinners than there is of you dying from terrorism.


Here's the funny part. All of you fearful little boys who have posted so far are all righties. Gives me a little more perspective about why Bush and all of his warmonger buddies dodging the Vietnam War.

Yes because the total danger in the world = only the riskiest behavior.... not the sum total of all risks?

[brandx]

The scary part I was referring to wasn't the terrorism...it was the fact the mere threat could cause a university to shut down.

But yeah, go on stereotyping, even though you had no idea what some of us were referring to.

We had a gun threat back when I was in high school many many years ago.

Same old. Same old.

[GooooMarquette]

We had a gun threat back when I was in high school many many years ago.

Same old. Same old.

Threats have been there forever.  Major institutions like U of C shutting down because of one, not so much.

[🏀]

Threats have been there forever.  Major institutions like U of C shutting down because of one, not so much.

Yes, but many threats are vetted before it reaches this level.

The FBI vetted it as a serious situation.

[GooooMarquette]

Yes, but many threats are vetted before it reaches this level.

The FBI vetted it as a serious situation.

Correct.  The point is that while threats have existed forever, it's becoming more common for them to be deemed credible enough to warrant closing a major institution.