Campus Safety Event

Dear members of the Skidmore Community:

Let me express my thanks to our entire campus community for closely following the directions provided in the emergency alerts yesterday during the heightened security event on campus. It was an unnerving experience for many. Our Campus Safety team and campus administrators communicated regularly, provided clear direction, and took every precaution to keep students, faculty, and staff members safe and informed.

To recap yesterday’s events: At 12:35 p.m., local authorities notified Campus Safety of a report of a man with a handgun in the woods off Daniels Road, approximately one mile from campus. During the following hours, Campus Safety Director Tim Munro and his team were in constant contact with New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Saratoga Springs City Police Department.

As local authorities shared developments in the investigation, the decision was made at 1:55 p.m. to suspend classes and secure the campus as a precautionary measure. Once classes were suspended, students were instructed to return immediately to their residences, and faculty and staff were directed to remain within locked buildings. Campus Safety worked to ensure all campus buildings were secure, and all evening events and athletic practices were canceled. Campus Safety and Student Affairs worked together to open the dining hall at 5 p.m. for students to eat dinner, and Campus Safety provided additional security around the dining hall.

At 6:19 p.m., law enforcement informed Campus Safety that the subject of the alert was in custody, and the campus was able to resume normal operations shortly thereafter.

Clear instructions and updates were provided throughout the afternoon via Skidmore’s urgent notification system, which sends alerts to all enrolled campus community members via email, voicemail, SMS/text message, Skidmore homepage, and College Facebook and Twitter accounts. Students are automatically enrolled in this alert system based on registration information. For faculty and staff who wish to enroll, please visit the webpage.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Campus Safety, Student Affairs, Office of Communications and Marketing, and all members of the faculty and staff for their leadership, and to our students for remaining calm and focused during the situation.

In an uncertain world, it is reassuring to know that our campus community, in collaboration with local law enforcement, is well prepared to work together effectively to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff.