Apr 12, 2008 11:00 am US/Central
Death Threats Shut Down University
Graffiti Implying An April 14 Attack Cited As Reason For Closure Of School's 3 Campuses
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Threats of violence posted in a freshman residence hall at a Catholic university have forced the indefinite closure of all three of the school's campuses and all of its buildings, according to a statement from the university.
The latter of two graffiti threats posted in April read: "Be prepared to die on 4/14."
Saint Xavier University, which has campuses in Chicago and Orland Park, announced all classes are canceled for the school's 5,700 students. But community events held on campus are still scheduled.
All students were ordered to be off campus by noon Saturday. At 11:45 a.m., all the students still on campus were to board buses which will take them to hotels provided by the university. It was not immediately clear how many students will board buses.
Students began evacuating dorms on Friday.
CBS station WCBS-TV reported students leaving campus Friday night had mixed feelings.
"I've been to public schools and this kind of stuff's written on bathroom walls all the time," said student Steven Harper. "I really don't think there's much to get that much in a tizzy about."
"At first I thought it was a cruel joke, but, you know, in these days with Northern Illinois, Va. Tech, you don't play with these things," said student Grace Hobson.
Understandably some students were thinking Friday night of the Feb. 14 slayings at Northern Illinois University.
"This is just getting way out of hand now," said student Jade Braden. "Definitely this is the right thing to do."
In a statement released on the university's Web site Friday evening, President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., said: "The University commits itself to practicing eight core values as it engages in a search for truth and knowledge. We commit to the values of Respect, Excellence, Compassion, Service, Hospitality, Integrity, Diversity, and Learning for Life.
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