Campus evacuated on May 5, academic buildings will open Wednesday morning

UPDATE FROM OHIO NORTHERN FACEBOOK, MAY 5 AT  5:41 P.M.__All Clear issed following bomb threat.

All ONU buildings have been searched and cleared by law enforcement. Students may return to residence halls and other campus housing.

All academic buildings, including Heterick Library and the James Lehr Kennedy Engineering building, will remain closed until [Wednesday, May 6] at 7 a.m. Classes and normal business operations, including the Child Development Center, Health Center, and Counseling Center, will resume on Wednesday, May 6 at 8 a.m. The ONU Healthwise Pharmacy will open at 9 a.m. as scheduled.

We understand situations like these can be stressful. Assistance is available if you would like to speak to someone. Students may call the Counseling Center to make an appointment or reach out to the Residence Life staff, if [they] need a listening ear. Faculty and staff may receive support through our Employee Assistance Program by calling 1-888-628-4824 or on the web.

We appreciate your patience as we worked to ensure the safety of our University community.

We thank ONU Public Safety, the Ada Police Department, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, Kenton Police, Forest Police, Perry Township Police, and the West Central Regional Bomb Squad for their swift response and thoroughness.

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At 2:16 p.m. on May 5, Ohio Northern University issued the following alert:

"Bomb threat has been received.  Leave immediately. Evacuate campus. Buses are staging on the Boulevard South of McIntosh to take evacuees to Ada High School. Buildings will be cleared one by one beginning with McIntosh and King Horn. Updates to come as available."

The Ada Schools issued an alert that the schools were on a soft lockdown, then, at 2:50 p.m., that the Hardin County Sheriff had approved on-time dismissal.

Bus routes were expected to be slightly delayed.