WIU increases security after note about on-campus shooting

Students at Western Illinois University are reacting with a mixture of caution and apprehension as Macomb and campus police investigate an alleged threat of an on-campus shooting.

No reports have been received of shots being fired, but WIU authorities have told students they don't have to attend classes. Officials say an employee at an apartment complex near the Macomb campus received a handwritten note in a drop-box that indicated there would be an on-campus shooting today..

As a precaution, residence halls have been locked and are accessible only by residents with keys.

WIU President Al Goldfarb says the anonymous off-campus threat forced the school to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty.

More Coverage Links Western Illinois University Press release on threat

He also says police patrols have been increased on campus and the university is working with Macomb police to find whoever is responsible for the threat.

WIU senior Tiffany McKibben, of Algonquin, had just gotten back to her WIU apartment from an early morning exam when she got the text message warning of a shooting threat on her campus.

"I jumped up to make sure the door was locked. Then I shut all the windows and pulled all the blinds," she said. "Everyone I've been talking to is freaking out. It's scary because the Northern thing just happened. It's a very real thing that can happen again."

McKibben said students were told someone had put a threat in one of the payment deposit slots at one of the off-campus apartment complexes. She received both the text message and an e-mail warning students of the threat and canceling all classes and meetings for the remainder of the day.

Across the campus, students were calling parents, friends and family to let them know they're OK, McKibben said. And they're checking on one another via phone calls and text messages.

"Everyone is checking to make sure everyone's OK," she said, adding she is angry on top of being frightened. "I know some people might be doing it as a joke or to get attention," McKibben said. "There are people out there who do things like this as a cry for help. But it affects everyone else in such a big way."

Junior Courtney Voelz of West Chicago was in her advertising class when she got the text message from the school.

"One girl told the teacher she had just gotten a text message from the school and then pretty soon, everyone started getting the text," Voelz said.

The message came around 9:40 a.m., she said. It read:

"An anonymous threat of possible shooting on the WIU Macomb campus has been received from an off-campus location. Law enforcement officials are investigating. There is increased police presence on campus. Check the WIU homepage at www.wiu.edu about class and work attendance and for additional information."

Voelz said her class was dismissed and students were told to go to a "safe place." Voelz said she went back to her campus dorm room where she has remained since the alert went out.

The alert system was put in place at the beginning of the school year in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings. This was the first time the school had used the system, Voelz said.

"It's scary," she said, "but it's good to know it works because with these things you never know."

Associated Press contributed to this story.