Archive: Mandatory Evacuation Friday, January 22, 2021
Email to campus
ALL CLEAR: IT IS SAFE TO RETURN TO CAMPUS
Date: Friday, January 22, 2021, at 5:50 p.m.
To students, faculty and staff:
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 units have thoroughly searched the Jacksonville University campus and verified it is safe for you to return. Thank you for your cooperation and your patience.
Earlier today, a Jacksonville University staff member received an email from an individual threatening violence to members of our campus. We take such threats very seriously. Upon discovering the email, the University immediately activated its emergency plan for such a scenario, issuing a campus-wide evacuation alert via text, through all campus computers, on our social media channels and our website.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded quickly, helped verify that everyone was evacuated, and conducted a thorough sweep of the property. We will continue to work closely with JSO to investigate this matter and prosecute the individual(s) responsible. JSO has also agreed to conduct extra patrols next week out of an abundance of caution.
The University’s Emergency Preparedness Team leads our faculty and staff through regular training for scenarios involving threats to campus. This is part of our commitment to do everything in our ability to protect the members of our campus – particularly the students who have been entrusted to us.
All members of campus should have received text alerts today with the mandatory evacuation order and the "all clear" message. If you did not receive these texts, we urge you to sign up for campus text alerts as soon as possible. This is a critical component of our emergency plan as it’s the fastest way for the University to notify all members of campus about an emergency.
Thank you again for your swift action and cooperation today.
