A bomb threat caused the evacuation of Seton Hall University's main campus by the South Orange Police Department due to "an unverified threat" around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday May 30, according to a Pirate Alert sent around 3:50 p.m.
This afternoon the University was notified by SOPD of an online Facebook posting of a potential bomb threat to campus, according to Dan Kalmanson, associate vice president for public relations and marketing.
As a precaution, SOPD in conjunction with SHU Public Safety closed campus and began a full sweep, Kalmanson said.
Police dogs are on site with police going building by building to do one full sweep of campus to determine that there are no bombs, also according to Kalmanson.
"In addition we began immediately evacuating all individuals from the buildings on campus. The University takes threats of this nature very seriously and we're working with the police to investigate the matter," Kalmanson said.
SOPD monitors online postings and wh n they learned of an online posting that there was a bomb threat made to campus posted online they notified the University, Kalmanson said.
Once the campus us deemed clear, campus will reopen, Kalmanson said, noting that this sweep is a long process.
According to one of The Setonian's on-campus staffers, a helicopter could be seen near the campus around 5:00 p.m.
Senior Jackie Felteau was in class when the evacuation occurred.
"We all got Pirate Alerts and a woman came in and said we needed to evacuate campus," Felteau said. "There was security around the Green, but some people were freaking out."
Also according to The Setonian's on-campus staffer, students living and working on campus were evacuated from the buildings and onto the green to await further instruction from SOPD.
They were told they could leave campus, but could not return. Fire alarms in buildings were pulled.
SOPD, sheriffs and fire trucks are at the main gate, according to eyewitnesses.
SHU is closed until further notice.
Please check back to www.thesetonian.com for further updates.
