An email notification to students warning them to stay away from Galvin Life Sciences Center due to a suspicious package found there Thursday afternoon did not send because the email Listserv, which was supposed to contain students’ emails, was empty, University spokesperson Dennis Brown said.
“As a result, no messages could be delivered,” Brown said. “We’re now working to understand why the list was empty.”
Faculty and staff received an email through a separate Listserv notifying them to avoid the area. The notification was also meant to reach students via the empty Listserv, Brown said.
Police officers responded to a call Thursday afternoon about a suspicious package in the bushes on the south side of the Galvin Life Sciences Center. A passerby noticed the container around 1:30 p.m. and contacted Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP), who roped off the area. South Bend and state police were called in to assist, and officers finished assessing the situation and reopened the area around 2:15 p.m.
Police identified the container as a cooler containing food and beverages.
Brown said Campus Safety decides when, and through what channel, to send urgent messages to students, faculty and staff. In this instance, the student Listserv — as opposed to the ND Alert system — was used, Brown said.
“In last Thursday’s case, the size and location of the container made it clear that only the immediate area needed to be cordoned off and evacuated, which was done,” he said. “The message to the campus was to notify people to avoid the area.”
