Threats close US university
2008-04-12 21:44
Chicago - Threatening graffiti found in
a dormitory caused officials to shut down a Chicago university
on Saturday, according to a statement from the school.
Saint Xavier University closed its Chicago and suburban
campuses after a message reading "Be prepared to die on 4/14"
was found on Thursday, Judith Dwyer, president of the
5 700-student Catholic university, said in a statement on its website.
That message follows a previous threatening, but
nonspecific message discovered in a bathroom stall in the
dormitory on April 5, the university said.
University and
Chicago police increased patrols at the school following the
first message, Saint Xavier said.
The school asked students to leave the campuses by noon
local time on Saturday and will be closed indefinitely, Dwyer
said.
A year ago on April 16, Virginia Tech, a university in
Blacksburg, Virginia, was the site of the deadliest rampage in
US history when a gunman killed 32 people and himself.
In February, a man walked into a lecture hall packed with
students at Northern Illinois University, killing five people
and wounding 18 before shooting himself dead.