Bomb Threats Close Tufts University Buildings, Postpone Final Exams
MEDFORD (CBS) -- Tufts University postponed final exams and closed several buildings Monday morning after police responded to a car fire on campus and found a suspicious note that made bomb threats.
The threats led the university to postpone morning, noon, and some afternoon final exams, though the school said in the afternoon that evening finals would continue as planned.
"We obviously would like to have our exams today, but as I said from the start, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority," said Senior Vice President for University Relations and General Counsel Mary Jeka at a press conference shortly before noon Monday.
The note, which Jeka said was taped to the door of the Health Services building, claimed bombs were present in Cabot Hall, Braker Hall, Cohen Auditorium, and Tisch. Jeka said several local, state, and federal law enforcement organizations were conducting a search of the buildings with bomb-sniffing dogs.
The university said shortly after noon that there would be enhanced police presence on campus throughout the rest of the day Monday.
Jeka said the note made reference to discussions on campus over the reorganization of the school's janitorial staff. A year ago, students on the university's campus protested the reorganization, which involved potential layoffs of janitors.
The Tufts Labor Coalition, a group that last year protested the university's plans to lay off several janitors, issued a statement condemning the fire and threats earlier Monday morning.
"The car fire and bomb threats made against several buildings on Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus early on the morning of May 9 are completely contrary to the values of Tufts Labor Coalition," said the group's statement. "TLC condemns violence and the destruction of property and does not employ either as a tactic."
The note was found by police and firefighters responding to a car fire on Professors Row next to the Health Services building. That fire was extinguished.
"I've worked here for 13 years and never seen something of this magnitude," said Jeka.
Around 1:45 p.m. Monday, the university said all the affected buildings had been cleared.
Police say they are investigating whether the car fire and threats are related. No arrests have been made.
Students were asked Monday morning to stay in their residences and "exercise caution" when going to the dining hall, and all nonessential staff on the Medford/Somerville campus were told to stay home.
Some students told WBZ-TV's Anna Meiler that their finals had been cancelled--and that the bomb scare caused even more anxiety in the already stressful exam period.
"I was just really stressed out because this isn't really a good environment for us to be taking stressful finals in already," said Tufts sophomore Courtney Gilbertson.
Jeka said all students who missed exams would be accommodated.
"I definitely don't think that there are actually bombs on campus, but I think it's good the university is taking it as seriously as they are," undergraduate student Patrick Horowitz told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens.
Classes at Tufts were finished for the semester.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
