Stonehill College Cancels Classes Due To Threat

EASTON (CBS) – Stonehill College cancelled all classes and activities Friday because of a threat.

Martin McGovern, the school's director of communications, issued a statement saying state, local and campus police are searching the campus, "out of an abundance of caution."

State Police spokesman Dave Procopio told WBZ-TV's Christina Hager bomb-sniffing dogs are sweeping the buildings.

"Students and staff have been advised of the threat and ongoing search and have been given the option to leave campus or remain in residence halls," McGovern said.

"We hope and expect that the search will be concluded by later today and campus life will return to its regular schedule this weekend."

Students told Hager that those who chose to stay in their dorms have since been told to go to the sports complex so the campus will be clear for the search.

Procopio said there was a suspicious package Thursday night that turned out to be empty, but there was also a note found on Friday that "connoted some sort of threat."

"The evacuation is precautionary," he said.

This is the second incident on Stonehill's campus in two days.

There was also chemical spill Thursday at the college's Shields Science Center. No one was hurt.