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October 13, 2008 3:06:15 AM CDT

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Threat Invoking Va. Tech Shuts Down College

Posted Dec 10, 07 3:34 PM CST in US 

(Newser) – The discovery of a cryptic threat that referenced the Virginia Tech shootings has temporarily shut down Northern Illinois University, the Chicago Tribune reports. The scribbled message on the wall of a women's restroom in a dorm referred to a specific school building and today's date, and included a racial slur. Exams scheduled for today were canceled.

The message included the phrase "the VA tech shooters messed up w/ having only one shooter" and said, "Things will change most hastily." The president of the university said: "We will not tolerate threats against individuals or groups. Nor will we tolerate hate speech of any type." The school's website said the icy weather plaguing the Midwest also contributed to the decision to shut down.

Source Chicago Tribune

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A long-distance shot of Northern Illinois University, Dekalb IL.   (Magnum Photos)
Josh Darrah, a freshman student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, browses the internet in the NIU student center, October 13, 2005. NIU is all but shut down after a reference to the...   (KRT Photos)
Josh Darrah, left, a freshman student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, plays video games in his dorm room. On the right is his roommate Chris Jordan. NIU has been all but shut down...   (KRT Photos)
Northern Illinois University has shut down in response to a possible threat in the form of a publicly posted reference to the Virginia Tech massacre.   (Wikimedia Commons)
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