Campus Alert Archive
MSU

Phoned-in bomb threat empties the administration building; about 400 people evacuated

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Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On September 6, 2019, Michigan State University received a bomb threat phoned into police dispatch at approximately 10:45 AM EDT targeting the Hannah Administration Building, where the university's new president and Board of Trustees had met earlier that day. MSU Police posted an evacuation message to Facebook at 10:59 AM EDT, and the formal campus-wide MSU Alert was sent to students at 11:23 AM EDT. Approximately 400 people were evacuated. Police cleared and reopened the building at 12:45 PM EDT after finding no suspicious materials.

Alerts
3
Response
14 min
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Michigan State University
Public R1 · MI
All MSU cases →
~50,000 studentsMSU Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how MSU says it will use MSU Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 3 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTMulti-channel
Verified verbatim638 chars
Bomb Threat This is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus. A person reported a bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building. We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages, suspicious activity or persons to Michigan State University Police. Monitor local media for more information. Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019. Today’s Date: 09-06-2019 Current Time: 11:12:26 Campus Area: on the East Lansing campus Police Agency: Michigan State University Police Specific Location: Administration Hannah Building
Verify this quote
MSU Alert archive (alert.msu.edu) — Hannah bomb threat initialalert.msu.edufind archived copies
Corrected to full official MSU Alert archive text (initial Hannah bomb threat).
MSU Police posted this exact message on its Facebook page at 10:59 a.m. EDT on September 6, 2019
The bomb threat was received via phone call at approximately 10:45 AM EDT, putting the public-facing alert about 14 minutes after the initial report
UPDATEMulti-channel+11 min
Verified verbatim636 chars
Bomb Threat This is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus. A person reported a bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building. We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages, suspicious activity or persons to Michigan State University Police. Monitor local media for more information. Sent at 11:23:18 on 09-06-2019. Today’s Date: 09-06-2019 Current Time: 11:23:42 Campus Area: on the East Lansing campus Police Agency: Michigan State University Police Specific Location: Administration Hannah Building
Verify this quote
MSU Alert official archive (verbatim re-issue ~11 min after initial)alert.msu.edufind archived copies
Re-issued bomb threat evacuation notice with updated Sent-at clock; body nearly identical to initial 10:59 send
ALL CLEARMulti-channel+1h 27m
Verified verbatim548 chars
MSU Alert This is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police Department regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus. At or near Administration Hannah Building the Michigan State University Police report; The Michigan State University Police Department is continuing to investigate the bomb threat. At this time the occupants of the building can return and resume normal operations. If you have any information related to the incident please contact the Michigan State University Police Department. Sent at 12:37:32 on 09-06-2019
Verify this quote
MSU Alert archive (alert.msu.edu) — Hannah bomb threat all-clearalert.msu.edufind archived copies
Exact all-clear from official MSU Alert archive.
Sent at 12:37 p.m. EDT on September 6, 2019, about 1 hour 38 minutes after the initial alert
Detroit News reported the alert said the investigation was continuing, but people could return to the building and 'resume normal operations'
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Bomb Threat This is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus. A person reported a bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building. We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages, suspicious activity or persons to Michigan State University Police. Monitor local media for more information. Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019. Today’s Date: 09-06-2019 Current Time: 11:12:26 Campus Area: on the East Lansing campus Police Agency: Michigan State University Police Specific Location: Administration Hannah Building

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: explicitly signed 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police', clearly identifying the sender.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police'
    2. present: Signed MSU ALERT, Michigan State University Police named.
    3. present: Signed 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police'
    4. present: 'Michigan State University Police' identifies the issuing authority.
    5. present: 'Michigan State University Police' named, 'MSU ALERT' signature
    6. present: Signed 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police'.
    7. present: Signed 'MSU ALERT' and names 'Michigan State University Police'.
    8. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police' explicitly identifies the sender.
    9. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police'
    10. present: 'MSU ALERT' and Michigan State University Police named.
    11. present: MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police
    12. present: 'Michigan State University Police' and 'MSU ALERT' identify the sender.
    13. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police' explicitly named.
    14. present: Signed "MSU ALERT" from "Michigan State University Police".
    15. present: 'Michigan State University Police' and 'MSU ALERT'
    16. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police'.
    17. present: Named 'Michigan State University Police' and branded 'MSU ALERT'
    18. present: 'MSU ALERT' from 'Michigan State University Police' explicitly named.
    19. present: 'Michigan State University Police' explicitly named.
    20. present: States "Michigan State University Police" and "MSU ALERT".
    21. present: 'Michigan State University Police' and 'MSU ALERT' explicitly named.
    22. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police' named.
    23. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police' explicitly identified.
    24. present: MSU ALERT, Michigan State University Police named
    25. present: 'MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police' named.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'A person reported a bomb threat' explicitly names the hazard.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'bomb threat'
    2. present: Bomb threat named.
    3. present: 'bomb threat' names the hazard
    4. present: States 'A person reported a bomb threat'.
    5. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat'
    6. present: 'bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building'.
    7. present: Names 'bomb threat'.
    8. present: 'bomb threat' names the specific hazard.
    9. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat'
    10. present: 'Bomb threat' named.
    11. present: A person reported a bomb threat
    12. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat' names the specific hazard.
    13. present: 'bomb threat' named.
    14. present: "A person reported a bomb threat".
    15. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat'
    16. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat'.
    17. present: Names 'bomb threat'
    18. present: 'bomb threat' names the hazard.
    19. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat'.
    20. present: States "bomb threat".
    21. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat' names the hazard.
    22. present: 'bomb threat' names the hazard.
    23. present: 'bomb threat' names hazard.
    24. present: Bomb threat reported
    25. present: 'A person reported a bomb threat' names hazard.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'Administration Hannah Building' (plus East Lansing campus) names the specific location.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'
    2. present: Administration Hannah Building, East Lansing campus given.
    3. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'
    4. present: Names 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    5. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'
    6. present: 'Administration Hannah Building', 'East Lansing campus'.
    7. present: Gives 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    8. present: 'at or near Administration Hannah Building' names the location.
    9. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'
    10. present: Administration Hannah Building given.
    11. present: Administration Hannah Building
    12. present: 'Administration Hannah Building' gives the location.
    13. present: 'Administration Hannah Building' given.
    14. present: "Administration Hannah Building", "East Lansing campus".
    15. present: 'at or near Administration Hannah Building'
    16. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    17. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'
    18. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    19. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    20. present: Specifies "Administration Hannah Building".
    21. present: 'Administration Hannah Building' names location.
    22. present: 'Administration Hannah Building'.
    23. present: 'Administration Hannah Building' given.
    24. present: Administration Hannah Building
    25. present: 'Administration Hannah Building' given.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: instructs recipients to evacuate the building immediately and report unattended packages or suspicious activity.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    2. present: Evacuate immediately and report unattended packages instructed.
    3. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    4. present: Instructs to 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'.
    5. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    6. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages'.
    7. present: Instructs to 'evacuate...immediately and report any unattended packages'.
    8. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'.
    9. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    10. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report...'
    11. present: evacuate...immediately and report any unattended packages
    12. present: 'We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately' instructs recipients.
    13. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages'.
    14. present: "evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages".
    15. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    16. present: 'We are asking you to evacuate...immediately'.
    17. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'
    18. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report...'.
    19. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'.
    20. present: Instructs "evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately".
    21. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately' is guidance.
    22. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report ... to Michigan State University Police'.
    23. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately'.
    24. present: Evacuate immediately, report unattended packages
    25. present: 'evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately.'
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: exact timestamp 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives precise time and date.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    2. present: Exact sent time and current time given, 09-06-2019.
    3. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    4. present: Gives 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    5. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    6. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    7. present: Gives exact 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    8. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives exact time.
    9. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    10. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives exact timestamp.
    11. present: Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019
    12. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives exact time.
    13. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' given.
    14. present: "Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019".
    15. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    16. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    17. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'
    18. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives exact time and date.
    19. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    20. present: Gives "Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019".
    21. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives exact time.
    22. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019'.
    23. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' and other explicit timestamps.
    24. present: Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019
    25. present: 'Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019' gives clock time.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: no stated consequence or severity beyond naming the bomb threat itself.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the bomb threat
    2. absent: No stated consequence beyond hazard name.
    3. absent: No stated harm or severity beyond naming the threat
    4. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the bomb threat.
    5. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the bomb threat
    6. absent: No stated consequence or severity of the bomb threat described.
    7. absent: No stated consequence beyond hazard type.
    8. absent: No stated potential harm or consequence of the bomb threat.
    9. absent: No stated consequence or severity of the bomb threat
    10. absent: No stated consequence beyond hazard name.
    11. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the bomb threat
    12. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the threat.
    13. absent: No stated harm or severity beyond the report itself.
    14. absent: No stated harm or severity conveyed.
    15. absent: No stated consequence beyond hazard name
    16. absent: No stated harm or severity beyond naming the bomb threat.
    17. absent: No stated consequence beyond the hazard itself
    18. absent: No stated consequence or severity of the threat.
    19. absent: No stated consequence or severity beyond naming the threat.
    20. absent: No stated consequence or severity beyond the threat itself.
    21. absent: No stated consequence or severity described.
    22. absent: No stated consequence or severity of the bomb threat.
    23. absent: No stated consequence or severity beyond hazard name.
    24. absent: No stated consequence beyond naming the bomb threat
    25. absent: No stated harm or severity conveyed.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

On September 6, 2019, Michigan State University Police received a bomb threat via phone call at approximately 10:45 AM EDT, reporting a bomb at or near the Hannah Administration Building, the university's main administrative hub. The campus alert was sent to students at 11:23 AM EDT, approximately 38 minutes after the threat was received. About 400 people were evacuated from the building while police conducted a thorough search. MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant confirmed that no suspicious materials were found in the building, and the building was cleared and reopened at 12:45 PM EDT, with normal operations resuming.
Analysis

Key Findings

MSU Police posted an evacuation message to Facebook 14 minutes after the 10:45 AM EDT threat (10:59 AM EDT); the formal campus-wide MSU Alert to students followed at 11:23 AM EDT, a 38-minute gap
Approximately 400 people were evacuated from the Hannah Administration Building, MSU's main administrative center
The threat was determined to be a hoax after a thorough search found no suspicious materials
The incident highlighted the operational disruption caused by hoax bomb threats at large universities
Outcome
No suspicious materials were found. Approximately 400 people were evacuated from the Hannah Administration Building. The building was cleared and reopened at 12:45 PM EDT and normal operations resumed.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    MSU Alert — Hannah Administration Building reopened after bomb threat
    alert.msu.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    MSU Alert — Bomb Threat at Hannah Administration Building
    alert.msu.edu
    archived copy
  3. News
    Bomb threat forces evacuation at MSU (WLNS)
    wlns.com
    archived copy
  4. News
    MSU's Hannah Building reopened after bomb threat (Detroit News)
    detroitnews.com
    archived copy
  5. News
    Bomb threat prompts evacuation at MSU (FOX 17)
    fox17online.com
    archived copy
  6. News
    MSU's Hannah Admin Building Re-opened After Bomb Threat and Evacuations (WKAR)
    wkar.org
    archived copy
  7. Official
    MSU Alert archive — bomb threat re-issue 11:23
    alert.msu.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Michigan State University: Phoned-in bomb threat empties the administration building; about 400 people evacuated." Incident of September 6, 2019. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/michigan-state-university-bomb-threat-2019-09-06/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
bomb-threathoaxmichiganpublic-r1evacuationadministration-buildingHoax
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion