A hoax that brought in the bomb squad, a celebration halted, and the midterm elections
BY: Abigail Hart and URVI GANDHI
Your insider guide to the Hofstra Pride. What students really need to know.
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1. 'Suspicious package' in the Axinn Library
On Saturday, Nov. 5, at 9:30 a.m., the Hofstra community was alerted of a “suspicious package” in the Axinn Library through the Campus Alert Notification Network (CANN) after an automated voicemail was sent to Public Safety. The message informed community members that the Nassau County Police Department was undergoing an investigation and that they would be notified if the situation progressed.
Karla Schuster, a university spokesperson, confirmed that the Nassau Police Department completed a thorough floor-by-floor search of the entire building accompanied by the canine, arson, and bomb units. The investigation revealed that the voice message received earlier that morning was a hoax and that there were no threats on campus as of 10:00 a.m Saturday morning. A follow-up message was issued through the CANN after the investigation was resolved. The spokesperson also commented that the use of the CANN in conjunction with the Nassau Police Department followed university safety protocols for active threats and encouraged students to either refer to the HofstraSafe App or reach out to the office of Public Safety at 516-463-6606 for more information.
The investigation into this “package” was unrelated to the malfunctioning of the blue emergency lights around campus that same day, which was caused through an issue with the company they are sourced through.
2. ‘Hofstra Votes Live’ broadcasts key midterm election results
The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication hosted its live “simulcast” in collaboration with students and faculty across the university to cover the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 8. This student-run effort included members of WRHU, HEAT Network and The Hofstra Chronicle to provide live updates and information on both national and regional elections.
The full broadcast can be accessed here.
3. Diwali Festival cut short
The Hofstra South Asian Student Association hosted its second annual Diwali Festival on Friday, Nov. 4, in collaboration with Hofstra Secular Student Alliance. This celebration was set to include performances by Hofstra’s Sitare, a South Asian dance team, along with Morni, an all-female Bhangra team; however, the event was cut short after an attendee pulled the fire alarm. Public Safety responded to the alarm, and those in attendance were asked to leave.
