University of Alabama officials address rampant rumors following threats of campus violence

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — University of Alabama officials have clarified a number of rampant rumors circulating the community after anonymous threats of campus violence sparked a dorm lockdown and search.

Despite officials giving the all-clear late Sunday night and campus operations continuing as normal, students and family members have had difficulty sifting through large amounts of misinformation on social media.

On Monday, the campus community received an email from officials specifically denying a number of rumors spreading on Twitter and other social media sites like Yik Yak, including:

• The fire alarm in Presidential Village was due to sensor that was activated by a non-fire event.


• There was no machete with a note on the door of a fraternity.


• No shots were fired at Presidential Village.


• The FBI is not on campus, and did not conduct a raid in Paty Hall.


• No one dressed as the Joker was in Tutwiler or on sorority row.


• There was not a man on sorority row with a box tied to him in a threatening manner.


• No one was shot and no one has been arrested.


• No students were choked on the Quad or anywhere else.

The police lock-down of a women’s dorm on the campus of the University of Alabama was sparked by an ‘alarming comment’ on a YouTube video, UAPD’s chief of police Tim Summerlin said Monday morning.

Officials say they’ve issued search warrants to social media sites regarding the comment.