Misunderstanding closes KVCC
Updated:6:22pm KALAMAZOO/TEXAS TOWNSHIP (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Officials evacuated and shutdown Kalamazoo Valley Community College's two campuses Thursday.
A posting on an Internet message board prompted the shutdown.
KVCC has two campuses, the main campus is on O Avenue in Texas Township close to where 9th Street crosses I-94. The other campus is in downtown Kalamazoo on Rose across from the Radisson Plaza Hotel.
Detectives say the Internet messages that left the parking lot nearly empty were not, in fact, threats against KVCC.
It was just a former student trying to get a rise out of others on-line.
Thursday is normally one of the busiest days for classes at KVCC, but word of a potential threat against campus sent students and staff home early.
"The first thing we thought was after seeing everything on TV, some maniac running around with a gun or something else was going on," said Mellissa Beyers.
In the wake of Monday's shootings in Virginia, administrators here not taking any chances.
"We evaluate these kinds of situations, thankfully they don't happen often, but again, given the circumstances we find ourselves in today, we felt this was the prudent thing to do," said Michael Collins of KVCC.
But did KVCC go too far canceling classes not only Thursday, but through Monday? Some folks on campus give their opinions.
"You never know, it could be real, it could be serious, so you have to deal with it as if it is," said Randy Beyer.
"We don't want to see anything happen here in West Michigan like what went on out in Virginia for sure," said Lonnie Bennett.
Detectives agree. They also say the person who saw the messages on a website did the right thing, calling in the anonymous tip. "There's too many things that happen out there that people have knowledge of that they didn't come forward until something happened. Let us know in advance so we can prevent it from happening," said Lt. Terry Vanstreain of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department.
The college has been reviewing its emergency plans since Monday's shooting in Virginia. While administrators say it's too bad they had to put those plans to use, they say everything seemed to work well.
