UPDATE: Police Probing Assumption College After Bomb Threat

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Massachusetts State Police are currently conducting a building-by-building search at Assumption College with college public safety personnel after the college received an email with a bomb threat last night.

The college has since evacuated all students, faculty, and staff; those with vehicles were told to go home while those without were given transportation to WPI. Assumption College will be closed on Wednesday October 15th and access to campus will be prohibited.

“You have entrusted us with a tremendous responsibility: the safety of your child. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. As a parent with a daughter in college hundreds of miles away, I can understand how the events of this evening may have caused you great concern,” said Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. President of Assumption College. “In consultation with local law enforcement who responded to this threat and the College’s Office of Public Safety, I made the decision to evacuate the campus. I would like to express my gratitude to the students who calmly exited campus and College staff who helped to coordinate this undertaking.”

Assumption College is offering updates on their Facebook page and their website, offering to continue the lines of communication to parents and students.

Updates from Assumption

As of 9:30 AM these are all the updates that Assumption College has posted on their Facebook page:

-8:07AM UPDATE: Massachusetts State Police are conducting a building by building search with College Public Safety personnel. Law enforcement and senior College administrators remain on campus as the investigation continues. Students are reminded that classes are cancelled and the College remains closed until law enforcement provides assurance that it is safe for students to return to campus.

-5:00AM UPDATE: The Worcester Police Department and Assumption College Public Safety joint investigation continues at this time. Evacuated Assumption students at WPI comfortable and fed (Thanks to WPI Police for driving the students to local eateries.)

-3:25AM UPDATE: A room by room search of each dorm has concluded. All students have been evacuated. Members of the Worcester Police Department, Assumption Department of Public Safety and senior administrators are the only individuals remaining on campus at this time.

-2:12AM UPDATE: The College will be closed on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Access to campus is prohibited.

-2:10AM UPDATE: MESSAGE FROM ASSUMPTION COLLEGE PRESIDENT FRANCESCO C. CESAREO

Dear Assumption College Parents:

On Tuesday evening, an Assumption employee received an email that contained what was interpreted as a serious bomb threat against the College.

You have entrusted us with a tremendous responsibility: the safety of your child. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. As a parent with a daughter in college hundreds of miles away, I can understand how the events of this evening may have caused you great concern.

In consultation with local law enforcement who responded to this threat and the College’s Office of Public Safety, I made the decision to evacuate the campus. I would like to express my gratitude to the students who calmly exited campus and College staff who helped to coordinate this undertaking.

Students with vehicles were asked to go home and bring their friends if they do not live close to campus; students without a vehicle were transported by Worcester Regional Transportation Authority buses to Harrington Auditorium at nearby Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I would like to offer my gratitude to WPI for their hospitality to the many Assumption students who are spending the night at our neighboring institution of higher education.

I would also like to thank the Assumption College staff who are onsite at WPI. The Assumption staff will spend the evening with students and remain at WPI until law enforcement assures me that it is safe for students to return to campus.

Please know senior College administrators have been and will remain on campus throughout the night until this situation is resolved. We will continue to communicate with parents and students by the RAVE Alert System, the College website, www.assumption.edu and social media, www.facebook.com/assumptioncollege.

Thank you for your trust and confidence in our efforts to keep your child safe.

Sincerely,

Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D.

President

-1:53AM UPDATE: Campus evacuation nearly complete. Campus Police and Residential Life staff conducting room by room search in each dorm to ensure all students have evacuated.

-12:45AM UPDATE: If parents would like to pick up their students they may do so at WPI's Harrington Auditorium.

-12:00 Midnight UPDATE: Busses will transport students to WPI from the Plourde Parking lot.

-11:55PM UPDATE: In consultation with law enforcement, as a precautionary matter, the campus will be evacuated so a search may commence. Classes are cancelled for tomorrow.

STUDENTS WITH VEHICLES ON CAMPUS

Students who live near campus and have vehicles are advised to go home. If a student can house friends, they are urged to do so.

STUDENTS WITHOUT VEHICLES ON CAMPUS

Students without vehicles will be transported to Harrington Auditorium at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where they will spend the night.

PARENTS WHO WISH TO PICK UP STUDENTS

Those parents who reside near campus and would like to pick their student up may do so at Harrington Auditorium at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Directions & Parking to WPI

Park Avenue Parking Garage at WPI GPS directions: 161 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA From I-290 Eastbound: Take Exit 17 (sign says Route 9), go up the exit ramp, take a left onto Belmont Street. Go 1/4 of a mile straight through Lincoln Square. Belmont Street becomes Highland Street. Turn right onto Grove Street and follow to first light. Take left onto Salisbury Street. WPI Park Avenue Parking Garage entrance is up on the left. From I-290 Westbound: Take Exit 18 (sign says Route 9), go down the exit ramp. Take a right onto Lincoln Street, then an immediate right onto Concord Street. At second light, Concord Street becomes Salisbury Street. WPI Park Avenue Parking Garage entrance is up on the left.

Assumption College Residential Life Staff will track those who depart campus – students are urged to email, text or call their RA or RD. All students will be provided safe shelter for the night.

March 2012

The Worcester Telegram had reported that the Worcester Police were one of a group of local police departments that were presenting challenges to the public in regards to looking at police logs, something that is public record by law.

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