UPDATE: We have the cause of the active shooter alert on the UM campus:
From Washtenaw County Sheriff: A group of 14 girls were popping balloons while screaming at or near Mason Hall. A group of students heard this and started running. This triggered the alert on campus. Police have given the all-clear.
— Steve Garagiola (@SteveGaragiola) March 16, 2019
The good news: we understand from sources that they were fair trade, intersectionally correct balloons that didn’t contain any greenhouse gasses or messaging that could be considered hate speech on a modern American college campus. So other than the false alarm that scrambled campus and county police, nothing problematic occurred at all.
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UPDATE: Aaaaand we’re glad to report that according to a UM tweet, the report of an active shooter appears to have been a false alarm.
UM ALERT UPDATE There does not appear to be an active threat to the community. DPSS continues to investigate. Continue to stay clear of area. https://t.co/BRDwV3MOmd
— University of Michigan (@UMich) March 16, 2019
It may have been someone walking with an umbrella or a student who chewed a slice of pizza into the shape of a pistol. Whatever the case, we’re pleased it wasn’t something more serious.
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News reports are starting to emerge of an active shooter situation on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. The university has issued an emergency alert message.
UM EAlert Ann Arbor: Active shooter in Mason Hall . Run, hide, fight. https://t.co/NofE7JP8yS. https://t.co/03ZOte5ylP
— University of Michigan (@UMich) March 16, 2019
Many of these situations turn out to be false alarms. Let’s hope this is one of those times.