Stevens: Campus Alert

Update (4/25/08): There has been a second Campus Alert issued today after another arson incident. For more details, please click here.

Update (2:27 AM): Not sure what to feel right now but the “incident” was supposed to take place at 2AM and nothing has been heard since and I really doubt anything happens now. There was a short span of time where it got unnerving about 15 minutes ago as fire trucks sirens could be heard from outside our window and from the rooftop as well but that amounted to nothing. It’s 2:30 AM now and I really don’t expect anything to happen. I have a 9 AM class in the morning and we’ll see where things from there.

Update (9:45 PM): For those looking for official updates from Stevens, they can visit http://www.stevens.edu/sit/alert.cfm.

Update (9:00 PM): This update was issued about two hours ago outlining the security plans for the night. There are Resident Hall Assistants located outside each entrance of the Davis Hall from what I have been told. There were additional details that there was a specific threat made towards the building that was supposed to take place overnight tonight. Overall the security measures taken on campus seem to be relatively well and not overreaching. Considering the things I have been told, I think I am satisfied with what has taken place and I am sure every student and faculty member will be willing to forgo a little bit of leniency to move around and visit the buildings as they please for the sake of the security of the entire campus. There will always be a limit on how much you are willing to give up and for how long but that’s a whole different topic for a different day.

As of 6:00 pm on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, all on campus residence halls have been swept and secured.  We are continuing the security measures currently in place through out the night. Stevens personnel or a Hoboken police officer will be stationed at each residence hall entry.

Students must have campus ID.  Only the residents of each dormitory will be allowed into their building.  Visitors are not permitted into the residence halls at this time.

We are now able to provide more information regarding the note left this morning in Davis Hall.  The note specified the April 23rd/April 24th overnight period.  If there are residents of Davis that are uncomfortable sleeping in their building, Jacobus and Canavan Arena will be open.  Please bring your own blankets and pillows.

If observe any suspicious behavior, please call the Center Desk 24hrs a day at (201) 216-5105.  Please call Dean Ken Nilsen if you have any information about this incident.  His number is (201)745-8216.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Update (4:26 PM): Just saw this update on Hoboken411… So maybe a door was not lit on fire and it was just a piece of paper? Keep in mind all these information are from third party as I have not verified this last one from anywhere. Way to early to presume anything but maybe it’s a little bit of an overreaction with these police forces coming from all over the State for one piece of paper being lit. But as I said, it’s way to early to presume anything. A set of pictures have been added courtesy of Hoboken411 all the way at the bottom of the post.

“A piece of paper on a door was lit on fire. During the course of the investigation a note mentioning a bomb was found in the communal garage can in the communal bathroom. Dorms are resident-only; campus is locked down – all persons wishing to enter must show ID.

The police are sweeping every residence hall, and once cleared will be checking bags of students entering their dorms. Through the coordination of the NJ State Police – bomb sniffing dogs were called in from JC, Bayonne, Hudson County, NJ Transit, and outside counties – including as far away as Monmouth County.”

Another Update (4:16 PM): I just took a walk through the entire campus with my roommate and they are all entrances closed where you can’t enter the campus without proper ID. All vehicle traffic is only allowed up through the main entrance through 9th street. Just an interesting note that there is plenty of police activity through the campus by all the dorm buildings but not so much outside the academic buildings. If you want to over look the heavy police presence, you can say that everything else looks like business as usual. Plenty of kids on the lawn tossing a ball around, playing volleyball, walking throughout the campuses from the athletic facilities to the library and what not.

Update (2:51 PM): Here is another email that was just sent out to the Stevens community.

Stevens Campus Police in cooperation with the Hoboken Police Department, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the NJ State Police, as well as other jurisdictions, has activated our campus emergency plan.

As a precaution, all access to Residence Halls is being monitored by Stevens personnel.  Students will only be allowed into their own Residence Hall after showing ID.  There may also be bag searches prior to entry.  Please cooperate in helping us maintain the safety of our community.

As an additional precaution, canine units are canvassing the Residence Halls.

All visitors to campus are being required to show ID prior to entering the grounds.

These safety procedures will be in effect until further notice.  We will be following the directions of law enforcement experts and will issue a further update early this evening.

Again, please call Dean Ken Nilsen if you have any information about this incident.  His number is 201-745-8216.

We are fortunate to have an outstanding campus Police Department and strong cooperation and support from Hoboken, Hudson County and the State of New Jersey.  Our primary concern is the safety of every member of our community.  We are taking and will continue to take every appropriate action.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Posted (2:38 PM): I’ll update more as I find things out but here is a Campus Alert that was sent out at 10:24 AM this morning.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, there was a case of arson on the fourth floor of Davis Hall, the Hoboken Fire Department responded and there were no injuries or serious damage. An arson investigation is underway. In addition, a threatening note was found in the fourth floor bathroom on Wednesday, April 23rd at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Effective immediately campus police officers will be posted at the main entry way of Davis Hall and all bags will be checked. The side doors will be closed for entry. Only Davis residents with valid IDs will be permitted in the building.

All members of the campus community are asked to have their Stevens ID available on their person.

Any members of the Stevens community with information about this incident are encouraged to contact Dean Ken Nilsen, 201-745-8216.

An email update will be distributed by 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, April 23, 2008. Please contact Maureen Weatherall, 201-216-5190 with any questions about this advisory.

It’s good to see that the Stevens Administration did not consider this a joke by a kid and are taking things seriously. They started setting up a campus-wide alert system after the Virginia Tech tragedy last year and this is the time first it has been used.

Hoboken411 also has this story along with photos provided by David Pfeffer from The Stute if you you want to check it out. I’ll probably head out after lunch to grab some photos myself.