“Threatening” flyers posted on campus at UMBC

This would probably have not been something newsworthy enough to blog about until the shootings earlier this week at Virginia Tech. Add in the fact that Quadmania is this weekend, and it becomes something we’re posting about here.

Earlier today, an e-mail was sent to the UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) community from Lynne Schaefer, VP of Admin and Finance. It was later posted on the UMBC website as an Important Message regarding Campus Safety.

From the message:

On Thursday evening, fliers containing language both hateful and threatening to the campus community were posted on campus. The UMBC Police are taking the threats seriously and are working with the County and State Police to monitor this situation.We ask that you be especially attentive and report any suspicious activity to the UMBC Police at 410-455-5555.

We will keep the community informed should more information become available.

Plans were already being made to lock down most of campus this weekend during Quadmania (including the closing of computer labs that are normally open.) Quadmania consists of carnival rides and outdoor stages for live music starting tonight and going through Sunday. A concert by the All American Rejects headlines the weekend tonight in the campus fieldhouse.

Earlier today, a community forum was held on campus relating to the events at Virginia Tech and at least one news crew was present.

These flyers are probably just some sick person’s joke or attempt to grab attention, but as we’ve seen with other incidents this week, including one at a Gaithersburg school, it is not the time that law enforcement or campus officials are going to do anything that even seems the least bit less than vigilant.