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SUNY Canton cancels classes over threat

Students and parents at SUNY Canton said they frustrated a lockdown was put in place and classes canceled only after a second threat appeared.

By Gabrielle Levy

CANTON, N.Y., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Classes were canceled and campus put on lockdown Thursday at the State University of New York at Canton after two death threats appeared on social media.

Students notified SUNY Canton University Police shortly after midnight Thursday morning of a threat on the social media site Yik Yak.

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Yik Yak is an anonymous app that allows users to post anonymous "yaks" within a 1.5 mile radius.

The first message read: "This is a message to all SUNYCanton students,if you valve your life do not go to class tomorrow,I plan on killing myself but before that I plan taking as many of you worthles piles of crap,be ready."

The wording of the second threat, around 4 a.m., was not released.

Campus officials did not notify the student body of the potential threat until 11:57 a.m., at which point an email warned people on campus to shelter in place.

"SOCIAL MEDIA THREAT TO THE CAMPUS - Please take shelter and lock your door. In danger? Contact University Police at 386-7777 or dial 911. This is not a drill. More information will be coming. Take shelter where you are. Lock all doors and remain away from windows."

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A second email, at 12:40 p.m. advised commuting students to stay away from campus until further notice. Classes were canceled for the rest of the day at 12:41 p.m.

At 1:50 p.m., no incidents had been reported on campus, and the school said it was beginning to "escort people from buildings, one building at a time," "out of an abundance of caution."

After the first threat, President Zvi Szafran said in a statement there was no evidence the threat was real.

"We recognize the concern about the recent threat that came over the anonymous social media site, Yik Yak," Szafran said in the statement. "There is no evidence at this point that the threat is either credible or imminent. SUNY Canton will be holding classes and activities as scheduled."

University police are working with law enforcement and Yik Yak administrators to identify the individual who sent the threats, Szafran said.

Students and parents on the college's Facebook page were critical of the school's decision to wait until the second threat before canceling classes and placing campus on lockdown.

"Notification was real early this morning and my son said he still had class...why?" one parent wrote. "With all that is happening lately and in the past, I think something should have been from the start. Just now is there law enforcement there....what a joke."

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