Alert for Enhanced Security Measures on July 20, 2007
To: Campus Community
From: President Mordechai Rozanski
Date: July 10, 2007
Re: Alert for Enhanced Security Measures on July 20, 2007
Rider University recently discovered a bomb threat against the Lawrenceville campus for Friday, July 20. As soon as the University became aware of the threat, our Department of Public Safety contacted Lawrence Township Police to investigate and to work with our Emergency Response Team to protect our University. Since then, we have been working closely with township and state authorities to enhance security measures and heighten vigilance. The contents and timing of this notice have been coordinated with the Lawrence Township Police.
Unfortunately, threats of this sort are all too common in today’s world; however, few of them are acted upon. Despite that fact, and because the safety of our University community remains our top priority, we have initiated and will continue to take all necessary precautions to protect our students, employees and campus visitors.
Therefore, because no classes are scheduled for July 20 on the Lawrenceville campus, and since that day is already a half work day for our employees, we are asking all faculty and staff on the Lawrenceville campus to take the entire day off unless already notified to assist with essential services that day.
In addition, we are asking any students who reside on the Lawrenceville campus and are able to return home for the weekend to do so on Thursday evening, July 19. Those students who are unable to return home for the weekend must notify the Office of Residence Life of this fact as soon as possible. Off-campus housing arrangements will be made for these students on the evening of July 19 through midnight on July 20, ensuring that there will be no students on the Lawrenceville campus on July 20.
We will reopen the campus on Saturday, July 21 after being assured by the Lawrence Township Police that the campus is safe. Of course, the Department of Public Safety will continue to conduct increased patrols.
Because the threat was directed to the Lawrenceville campus, the Princeton campus will remain open. We have been in contact with the Princeton Borough Police who will provide additional coverage on the Princeton campus on July 20.
We would also like to inform you that, prior to the discovery of the threat, we had already scheduled a live emergency management test exercise on Thursday, July 19 on the Lawrenceville campus. The test will involve many members of our campus community as well as emergency response agencies from the township and county. This test is not in response to the concerns we have for July 20 and will be conducted as scheduled.
As we have said before, the safety of our University community is paramount. Therefore, while the authorities believe that the actual threat to the community may be limited, we are responding proactively. As you know, Rider University has an extensive emergency response plan. The planned test on July 19 and our preparations for July 20 make clear that, in cooperation with our community partners, we continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that Rider University is and will remain a safe community.
If you have any questions, please contact the University during regular business hours at (609) 896-5101 or the Lawrence Township Police at (609) 896-1111. Please note that because of the investigation and security measures initiated, the Lawrence Township Police have instructed us to be constrained in responding to some questions at present.
