Cornell University, other Ivy League campuses evacuate after receiving bomb threats




Cornell University evacuated four campus buildings for hours Sunday afternoon after bomb threats were received there and at a number of other Ivy League schools.

Cornell turned to its social media accounts around 2 p.m. to alert students, faculty, and others to leave and avoid the law school and other facilities at the Ithaca university.

On Twitter, the university urged people to evacuate and avoid the law school, Goldwin Smith, Upson Hall and Kennedy Hall.

"Please do not call the Cornell Police unless you have an emergency," the warning continued.

James Brennan, a 25-year-old Cornell law student from the Town of Greece, said he was relaxing in his Ithaca apartment when the first alert came. He and other law students joined an online group chat, trying to sort out fiction — there were initial erroneous rumors of an active shooting incident — from fact, he said in a telephone interview Sunday.

Eventually, the campus alerts clarified the threat, Brennan said. He said the law school is not particularly active on a Sunday, but "does get a few people in there."

"Starting around the first alert, police blocked several roads and pathways with yellow caution tape," according to the Cornell Daily Sun, the student newspaper. "Cornell University Police Department and New York State Trooper cars stationed on the ground across campus.

Cornell lifted the warning at about 7:30 p.m., stating on Twitter that "law enforcement has concluded search of the Ithaca campus; no credible threats were found. It is safe to resume all normal activities."

Columbia and Brown universities also received threats. Columbia quickly deemed its threat not credible by the New York City Police.

"Following an investigation, the threats were deemed not credible by the NYPD and the campus buildings have been cleared for reoccupancy, a Columbia University spokesperson said in a statement, according to the campus newspaper, the Columbia Spectator. "We thank those individuals affected for their patience and cooperation in evacuating."

Brown University evacuated campus buildings around the main green in Providence, Rhode Island, on Sunday afternoon, according to The Providence Journal. Later in the day it also decided the threats were not legitimate.

"After receiving a bomb threat by phone, Brown University's Department of Public Safety evacuated several buildings near the university's college green," a university spokesperson said in a statement. Officers are on site actively investigating with local law enforcement."

Yale University received similar threats earlier this week, according to media reports.

Also, three Ohio universities — Ohio, Miami, and Cleveland State universities — were targeted with bomb threats in recent days, according to USA Today.

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