College Postpones Finals Over Car Fire, 'Suspicious' Note

Tufts University says note indicated there were bombs in at least 4 buildings
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted May 9, 2016 12:08 PM CDT
College Postpones Finals Over Car Fire, 'Suspicious' Note
Police are still investigating the car fire and bomb threats.   (Twitter/WCVB)

Tufts University students who'd crammed for their last tests of the year found out they got some extra study time after a car fire and bomb threat resulted in the college shuttering multiple buildings and putting off finals Monday morning, the Boston Globe reports. "All morning activities, including final exams, are postponed," read an email sent to Medford/Somerville campus staff and students around 9:35am, asking staff to return home and students to stay inside their living quarters; the school's Twitter account has likewise been posting instructions and updates. The email added that a decision about afternoon exams would be made "pending reopening of the affected buildings," including those listed in a "suspicious" note, Tufts confirmed shortly after 6:30am Monday. The school went into postponement mode after police and fire officials checking out the reported car fire at the university's health center found the handwritten note taped to the health center's door, the Washington Post reports.

The note stated there were bombs in four buildings on campus, and, per NECN, a senior VP at the school says the message made reference to the school custodial staff. The site adds it's not clear if that reference is in regard to an ongoing labor dispute between administrators and the school's custodial staff, which has been upset about a reduction in their working hours and other changes to their work duties. The janitors' union sent out a statement saying it condemned "the violent actions," while a student labor group that has supported the janitors also denied involvement. Sophomore Evan Sayles, who works for the Tufts student newspaper, was one of those students studying for finals in a residence located near the car fire when he "heard a series of loud bangs" around 4:30am, ran outside with his camera, and took pictures of the burning car and the note. (Tufts was in the news a few years back for canceling the annual Naked Quad Run.)

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