Columbia Chicago

A 6:51 a.m. Email Claimed Bombs Were Placed Around a Chicago Arts College's Loop Campus -- and the School Stayed Open Anyway

Sunday, July 1, 2018ILbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

UnfoundedNo evidence of an actual threat was found. The institutional response is documented because the alert communication is identical to what would occur during a real incident.

On July 1, 2018, the Chicago Police Department began investigating an emailed bomb threat sent to Columbia College Chicago at approximately 6:51 a.m. CDT, alleging that explosive devices had been placed 'around' the campus and were set to detonate that evening. Columbia College chose to remain open during the investigation and issued a crime advisory to students, faculty, and summer staff telling them to stay alert. Chicago Police Area Three detectives investigated throughout the day; no device was found and no injuries were reported.

Alerts: 1
Response: —
Killed: 0
Injured: 0

Institution

Columbia College Chicago

Private Bachelors · IL

~8,000 studentsColumbia College Chicago Campus Safety Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmailJust after noon CDT on July 1, 2018, when the Campus Safety crime advisory was distributed to the community

Approximate reconstructionThe Columbia Chronicle (quoted advisory content and timeline)325 chars

The Office of Campus Safety and Security and the Chicago Police Department are investigating an email that alleged bombs had been placed around the campus and set to detonate this evening. The college will continue regular operations while authorities investigate. Remain alert and report any suspicious activity immediately.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The bomb threat email was received at approximately 6:51 a.m. CDT on July 1, 2018; the campus crime advisory went out just after noon CDT according to The Columbia Chronicle

The school's decision to stay open despite a campus-wide bomb threat represented a risk-calibration choice: authorities believed the threat was non-credible, and disrupting summer classes was seen as disproportionate

Text is reconstructed from The Columbia Chronicle's summary of the advisory; the exact wording of the campus alert is not in the public record

Context

Background

Columbia College Chicago is a private arts and media college in Chicago's South Loop, whose student body of roughly 8,000 includes undergraduate and graduate programs in film, music, journalism, creative writing, fashion, and theater. On July 1, 2018, the college received an emailed bomb threat at approximately 6:51 a.m. CDT alleging that explosives had been placed 'around' the campus and would detonate that evening. The Office of Campus Safety and Security issued a crime advisory to faculty, staff, and summer students just after noon, noting that Chicago Police Department Area Three detectives were investigating. Columbia's associate vice president for Strategic Communications stated the college would 'continue regular college operations' during the investigation. The school's open-campus posture contrasted with its response to the October 2016 bomb threat, when it partially evacuated 600 S. Michigan Avenue for a canine sweep. No device was found and no arrests were publicly reported. The 2018 incident illustrates how arts and media institutions weigh the reputational and operational cost of campus-wide closures against the credibility of non-specific emailed bomb threats.

Outcome

Chicago Police Area Three detectives investigated throughout July 1, 2018. No explosive device was found. No arrests were reported in connection with the emailed threat. The college continued normal summer operations while the investigation proceeded.

Provenance

Sources

Student Paper
BREAKING: Columbia receives bomb threat, campus remains open - The Columbia Chronicle
columbiachronicle.com
News
Bomb Threat Made Against Columbia College's Registrar's Office - Patch Chicago
patch.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Sources

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