Denouncing Act of Intimidation
On Tuesday evening, student office assistants (OAs) in the Multicultural Center (MCC) at 1936 Sheridan Road discovered a message written on a whiteboard that said, “I am insane, also I have a gun.” The Multicultural Student Affairs OAs immediately called the Northwestern Police Department (NPD), then closed the building.
Northwestern takes any act of intimidation or threat seriously and is actively investigating the incident, including reviewing available video and security footage. The MCC and The Black House at 1914 Sheridan Road remain closed, and NPD has increased its patrols in the surrounding area. We strongly encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact NPD at 847-491-3456 or submit a Bias Incident Report.
The University strongly denounces any attempt to intimidate or threaten members of our community and takes such incidents seriously. The message written at the MCC was abhorrent and violates Northwestern’s values and our core commitments to creating a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all of our students, faculty and staff.
The Multicultural Center has served as an important resource for our community since it was established in 1999. Tuesday’s incident occurred in a space that centers the needs of our marginalized students while fostering community engagement and identity expression. It also comes less than a month after more than a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats.
We recognize that this information may be difficult and painful for some students to process. There are many campus resources available to provide support and resources for those who may need it, including CAPS, Religious & Spiritual Life and Student Assistance and Support Services. Staff in the Dean of Students Office, Multicultural Student Affairs and all of Campus Inclusion and Community also are available to help.
The University appreciates the individuals who came forward Tuesday night to report this incident. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to stand together against intimidation, and to support a diverse and thriving community.