CHICAGO — The University of Chicago has canceled classes on Monday and asked students, faculty and non-essential staff to stay away from its main campus on the city’s South Side after being informed by the FBI of a threat of gun violence.
“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.,” university president Robert Zimmer told the campus community in an e-mail Sunday. “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.”
FBI spokeswoman Joan Hyde said efforts to determine the source of the threat are ongoing.
Zimmer cautioned that there will be an increased police and security presence on and around campus, and that the FBI continues to investigate the threat.
Monday classes and activities at UChicago Hyde Park Campus canceled due to threat. More info: https://t.co/RRT3q7oOEp
— The University of Chicago (@UChicago) November 30, 2015
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (a private elementary and high school), the University of Chicago Charter School campuses, the University libraries, theQuadrangle Club and other campus facilities will be closed on Monday.
The University of Chicago Medical Center will remain open to patients, but Zimmer said patients and staff will see added security measures.
The closure comes less than two months after a gunman killed nine people on theUmpqua Community College campus in Roseburg, Ore.