Campus Alert Archive
NIU

Bathroom Graffiti Closes NIU for a Day — Two Months Before the Real Thing

ILthreat of violenceemergency notificationlow confidence
UnfoundedNo evidence of an actual threat was found. The institutional response is documented because the alert communication is identical to what would occur during a real incident.

In early December 2007, Northern Illinois University discovered threatening graffiti in a residence-hall restroom that referenced the Virginia Tech shootings and warned of violence in the final days of the semester. The university closed the DeKalb campus on December 10, 2007 — the first day of exam week — and rescheduled some finals while police investigated. The threat was found not credible and the campus reopened under heightened security. Tragically, an actual mass shooting in Cole Hall would follow on February 14, 2008, making the December response a poignant near-miss in NIU's emergency-communications history.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Northern Illinois University
Public R2 · IL
~25,000 studentsNIU Campus Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction278 chars
NIU is investigating threatening graffiti found in a residence hall referencing possible violence on campus. University Police have increased patrols. The campus remains open at this time; please report any suspicious activity to the NIU Department of Public Safety immediately.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed: The Daily Illini reported NIU was placed under a security alert after threats were found, but the verbatim notice text is not preserved.
The graffiti referenced the Virginia Tech shootings and reportedly warned that 'things will change most hastily' near the end of the semester.
At this stage the campus remained open while police evaluated the credibility of the threat.
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction287 chars
Out of an abundance of caution, Northern Illinois University will be closed on Monday, December 10. Final examinations scheduled for that day are postponed and will be rescheduled. University Police continue to investigate. Watch your e-mail and the NIU Web site for further information.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed: sources confirm NIU closed December 10 — the first day of exam week — and rescheduled finals, but the exact announcement wording is not preserved.
This is an update rather than an all-clear because it escalates the response to a full one-day closure while the investigation continues.
An all-campus alert reportedly went out via the campus website, e-mail, voice mail, the campus crisis hotline, the news media, and alarm systems.
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction262 chars
Following a thorough investigation, University Police have determined that the graffiti did not constitute a credible threat. The campus will reopen with heightened security and examinations will resume. We thank the NIU community for its patience and vigilance.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed: coverage confirms police found no imminent threat and the campus reopened under heightened security, but the verbatim reopening notice is not preserved.
This is the genuine all-clear because it states the threat was not credible and lifts the closure.
NIU President John G. Peters later said he had weighed the December threat seriously; the February 14, 2008 Cole Hall shooting gave the episode a grim retrospective significance.
Context

Background

Northern Illinois University closed its DeKalb campus on December 10, 2007 — the first day of final-exam week — after threatening graffiti was found in a residence-hall restroom referencing the Virginia Tech massacre and warning of violence as the semester ended. Police investigated, found the graffiti was not a credible threat, and reopened the campus under heightened security. The episode is significant in NIU's history because it tested the university's emergency-communications channels — campus website, e-mail, voice mail, and a crisis hotline — just two months before the February 14, 2008 Cole Hall shooting that killed five students. The contrast between a precautionary one-day closure over graffiti and the speed required during the actual attack shaped national conversations about campus threat assessment in the post-Virginia Tech era.
Analysis

Key Findings

NIU closed its entire DeKalb campus for one day during exam week over threatening restroom graffiti referencing Virginia Tech
Police determined the threat was not credible and reopened the campus under heightened security
The all-campus alert reportedly used the website, e-mail, voice mail, a crisis hotline, news media, and alarm systems
The precautionary closure came just two months before the February 14, 2008 Cole Hall mass shooting, giving it lasting significance in NIU's emergency-response history
Outcome
Police determined the graffiti was not a credible threat. The campus reopened after one day under heightened security and students resumed exams.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    NIU under a security alert after threats - The Daily Illini
    dailyillini.com
  2. Source
    2008 Northern Illinois University shooting - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
  3. Report
    Northern Illinois University Shooting - Office of Justice Programs
    ojp.gov
Tags
threat-of-violenceillinoiscampus-closuregraffiti-threatpost-virginia-techunfoundedniuUnfounded
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion