Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul briefly turned into a ghost town Monday after campus security reported an "unsubstantiated threat" and ordered everyone out of the building. Students and staff were told to evacuate while officers swept the campus, and the all clear came only after that search turned up no danger.
Rapid response, alerts fly to phones
According to KSTP, campus security fired off an emergency alert to the law school community, then contacted St. Paul police. Officers arrived within about five minutes, conducted a sweep, and deemed the building safe. A follow-up notice from the school told students and staff they could head back inside.
How Mitchell Hamline keeps people in the loop
The law school maintains its own on campus security team and relies on an e2Campus emergency notification system to reach students and employees, as outlined on the school's safety page. That site lays out emergency numbers, evacuation steps, and re entry procedures that are coordinated with local law enforcement. The school urges students to enroll in alerts and to follow campus security directions at any time an incident pops up.
Hoax style threats ripple across Twin Cities campuses
Monday's scare at Mitchell Hamline is not happening in a vacuum. Minneapolis College of Art and Design reported that a Jan. 16 bomb threat there turned out to be "part of a widespread hoax affecting more than fifteen other institutions," according to the school's internal notice on the MCAD intranet. Regional coverage, including from KTTC, has highlighted other school threats across Minnesota that were later deemed unsubstantiated after investigation.
What safety officials say to do when an alert hits
When a threat comes in, the usual playbook is straightforward, even if the situation is tense. Institutions evacuate, work with law enforcement on a sweep, then reopen only when officers confirm the area is safe. Those steps line up with campus safety guidance from the FBI LEB, which stresses clear communication, quick coordination with local police, and careful evaluation of threats to minimize both risk and panic.
Mitchell Hamline has so far stuck to a tight script, describing the incident only as an "unsubstantiated" threat and offering no additional public details, KSTP reports. No injuries were reported, and the school's website continues to list campus security contact information for anyone who needs assistance or has questions about safety procedures.
