UPDATE (7 p.m. Sunday): DPSS has shared further information from the FBI, along with additional context.

“DPSS is confident that any threat from the post has been addressed and mitigated. In collaboration with our partners, we have conducted an assessment of the individual who made the post,” said DPSS Executive Director Eddie L. Washington, Jr.

Threat assessment includes accounting for all information available and the totality of the circumstances such as evaluating an individual’s means, opportunities, and influence to cause harm.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

To All Members of the Campus Community:

We are writing to provide additional updates and information on the misogynistic and bigoted shooting threat posted on a Russian-operated confessions website. What we know today from the FBI is that the threat has been mitigated, and there is no current or pending threat based on the post. The FBI has reported that the post originated on the East Coast.

While the investigation by our Division of Public Safety and Security and FBI found no threat tomorrow, the post and the hateful views it expressed are deeply frightening and upsetting, causing trauma and heightened levels of anxiety. We are sad and profoundly disturbed that violence and threats directed at groups are far too frequent on our campus and across the nation.

We appreciate the concerns many in our community have expressed. Based on the reassuring information from the FBI, classes and activities will continue as scheduled Monday. However, we do ask instructors and supervisors to be flexible wherever possible and understand the impact this news has had, while recognizing that our campus will be open tomorrow. DPSS continually has measures in place to protect public safety in our community.

Please reach out if you need assistance or see someone who needs support. Already, we’ve seen members of our community offering support to their peers.

The Ann Arbor Dean of Students Office can provide assistance and help with academic accommodations. The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to all students. Our Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO) provides support to faculty and staff on our campuses. Our Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience provides counseling, consultations, and information to all Michigan Medicine faculty and staff. Our Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center has support resources, as well.

Anyone with information to share or specific questions related to the post or other threats to safety on our campuses should contact U-M’s Division of Public Safety and Security at 734-763-1131 or dpss-safety-security@umich.edu.

We extend our appreciation and gratitude to the law enforcement professionals who quickly identified the source of the posting, to those who are providing support to our community, and to those who are speaking out against hate in our nation.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Schlissel
President

Susan M. Collins
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs