University of Chicago Cancels Classes After Shooting Threat

The University of Chicago has canceled all classes and activities at its main Hyde Park campus on Monday after being warned of threats of gun violence against the campus from the FBI.

The threats, which come in the wake of a spate of gun violence across the country, were made by an unidentified individual who mentioned “the campus quad” on Monday at 10 a.m. Students and faculty who do not have emergency or patient care responsibilities have been told to stay indoors.

According to a statement from the FBI, the decision to cancel classes was made by the university. It’s a call they’ve rarely made in the school’s over one hundred year history.

“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,” wrote President Robert J. Zimmer in a memo to the university community. “University security personnel are keeping in close contact with the FBI, which is continuing to to investigate the threat.”

The memo continues:

In addition to canceling all classes and events at the Hyde Park campus, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, the University of Chicago Charter School campuses, 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 University of Chicago Police Department at 773-702-8181. Students living on campus who are seeking additional information should contact their resident heads.

The Chicago Theological Seminary also announced it would be closing due to its proximity to the university.

“I’m not going down there tomorrow, and I don’t have plans on going down there on Tuesday,” said a student named Will to the Chicago Tribune. “For a threat like this, I want to give a few days to cool off. I think it’s pretty extraordinary that the president interceded and canceled everything. I think that suggests something pretty serious is happening.”