Update 3:25 p.m.:
Evening classes for Wednesday, February 2 are canceled. NMU Public Safety and Police Services continue to have things under control on campus, but for precautionary reasons, ask that people do not wander on campus or come to the University at this time.
Students in residence halls are asked to remain there.
More information will be provided as it's made available. The University remains closed for the day.
Update 1:29 p.m.:
NMU Public Safety is changing the status of residence halls to lockdown with NMU ID access so that residence hall students can gain access to dining facilities. Students must take their NMU IDs to return to their halls. Residents of Quad I and II can proceed to the Marketplace. Residents of West and Spooner Halls are encouraged to use the Wildcat Den. An NMU Public Safety escort will be provided.
If you are a parent of an NMU student and have questions, you may call 906-227-1226
Update 11:34 a.m.:
Northern Michigan University has issued the following statement:
NMU Public Safety and Police Services has things under control on campus, but for precautionary reasons, ask that people do not wander on campus or come to the university at this time. Students in residence halls are asked to remain there. More information will be provided as it's made available. The university remains closed for the day.
Update 10:51 a.m.:
Northern Michigan University was closed down around 9 a.m. this morning because of a "serious threat."
Spokeswoman Kristi Evans says an online threat was made to harm students, faculty and others at the campus. Employees already at work were evacuated from buildings, and students were turned away by Public Safety officers.
Detective Captain Gordon Warchock is with the Marquette Police Department. He says there is an ongoing investigation:
We're assisting Northern Michigan University public safety in any way we can with the investigation and providing manpower.
An unconfirmed source says a blogger threatened to "shoot up" campus this morning. Nicole Walton is News Director at public radio station WNMU. She says even essential personnel were told to go home, so the radio station is on autopilot:
When we think of closures usually it's because of several feet of snow falling, and shooters coming on campus, it's just not on our radar.
Students at Marquette Area Public Schools have also been sent home, and Marquette General Hospital has posted security at entrances.
Update 10:44 a.m.:
The Associated Press reports:
Spokeswoman Kristi Evans says Wednesday an online threat was made to harm students, faculty, staff and administrators at Northern Michigan. Evans had no further details about the nature of the threat, which was discovered shortly before 8 a.m. Evans says an emergency notice was transmitted on laptop computers that are provided to all 9,400 students. Text messages were sent on cell phones. She says it's uncertain whether the closure will extend beyond Wednesday. Evans says the message did not mention the public schools. But interim superintendent Deborah Veiht said they also were closed as a precaution. Marquette Senior High School is next door to the university campus. The public schools have 3,000 students.
Update 10:33 a.m.:
The Mining Journal reports from Marquette:
Northern Michigan University was closed today because of an anonymous threat received early this morning. Effects of the threat rippled outward from the NMU campus, resulting in the closure of all Marquette Area Public Schools. According to Cindy Paavola, NMU director of communications and marketing, the unspecified threat would have caused harm to students but it was unknown what part of campus it would impact. More information will be released as it becomes available throughout the day, Paavola said. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post said NMU Public Safety told them they were responding in a cautious way by closing down the university.
Update 10:18 a.m.:
Northern Michigan University was closed down around 9 a.m. because of a "serious threat" received by officials. Employees already at work were evacuated from buildings and students were turned away by Public Safety officers, who were parked in the middle of campus. Marquette Area Public Schools were locked down, but students have since been released to their parents. Although open, the local hospital has limited the number of entrances to five and has posted guards at each door.
It has not been confirmed, but a source says a blogger threatened to "shoot up" campus Wednesday morning. A California resident read the blog and contacted NMU officials. No reason for the threat has been given
Update 10:11 a.m.:
City police say area schools are also taking precautionary measures.
The university is shut down for the day because of a threat that university officials are taking seriously, according to a Public Safety spokesperson who could not provide additional information.
Students, staff and employees, including essential personnel, were notified this morning that the university is closed, and security personnel were turning away employees who did show up to work.
Update 10:07 a.m.:
Northern Michigan University has been evacuated and Marquette General Hospital is also reportedly under lockdown with limited entrances open because of the threat to NMU. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.
9:59 a.m.:
Northern Michigan University is closed today... not because of the weather but due to a serious threat it has received. The closure includes essential personnel. We have anecdotal reports that security personnel are turning employees away and telling them to go back home. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.
