OU has issued an all clear after a suspicious package was found near Gaylord Hall on Friday afternoon.
Three buildings including Gaylord Hall, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and the Asp Avenue parking garage were evacuated.
A sign and package was found outside Gaylord Hall. The sign read "Ignore this like you do genocide. 28,000 and counting. Silence is complicity."
The Norman Police Department's Hazardous Devices Unit responded to the incident. The mission of the Norman Police Department's Hazardous Devices Unit is to conduct all investigations into reports of devices or materials that could be hazardous in nature, according to its website.
According to the website, it is one of seven certified squads in the state. The unit includes six certified bomb technicians and one explosive detection K-9 afforded through a partnership with the University of Oklahoma Police Department. The HDU also maintains four full-coverage bomb suits, four designated response vehicles, a robot, multiple x-ray systems, specialty tools, biological, chemical and radiological detection equipment and a command trailer, according to the website.
3:25 p.m.
OUPD has issued an all clear.
"The area near Gaylord Hall has been deemed safe and there is no threat to campus. The alert is canceled."
3:17 p.m.
Officials respond to reports of a suspicious package near Gaylord Hall.
OU Daily reporters have watched members of the Hazardous Devices Unit approach the package without a robot or protective gear.
Assistant news managing editor Anusha Fathepure is in the Asp Avenue parking garage.
2:53 p.m.
The bomb squad robot has left the package and returned to officers around the corner of Lindsey Street and Asp Avenue.
OU has sent another alert urging people to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
2:47 p.m.
In an email sent to Gaylord College faculty, staff and adjunct professors, interim Dean David Craig wrote he is not sure when people can return to the building.
"If you are on campus and not otherwise occupied, please feel free to go home. At this point we do not know when it will be possible to return to the building," Craig wrote.
2:44 p.m.
2:38 p.m.
Bomb squad responding to suspicious package outside of Gaylord Hall.
The bomb squad is approaching the suspicious package. OUPD has sent another alert urging people to avoid the area.
2:23 p.m.
OUPD sent another alert at 2:23 p.m. urging people to continue to avoid the area.
Bomb squad responding to suspicious package outside of Gaylord Hall.
2:20 p.m.
The Asp Avenue parking garage is being evacuated. The garage is located east of Gaylord Hall.
2:11 p.m.
The bomb squad robot has responded to the investigation.
2:08 p.m.
OUPD sent another alert asking people to avoid the area of Gaylord Hall after a suspicious package was found on Friday afternoon.
2:03 p.m.
OU Daily reporters watched members of the bomb squad arrive outside Gaylord Hall.
Norman Police Department public information officer Sarah Schettler told OU Daily OUPD has requested mutual aid to respond to this incident and is currently the lead agency on this case.
1:53 p.m.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture building, located to the north of Gaylord Hall is being evacuated.
OUPD sent another alert at 1:53 p.m. urging people to continue avoid the area.
1:35 p.m.
OUPD sent another alert at 1:35 p.m.:
"OUPD continue to investigate suspicious package reported near Gaylord Hall. Continue to avoid the area."
1:32 p.m.
An OUPD public information officer told OU Daily a bomb technician inside Gaylord Hall is investigating the package out of an abundance of caution.
1:25 p.m.
At 1:17 p.m., the OU Police Department sent the following message:
“Suspicious package Norman Campus reported near Asp Ave. east of Gaylord Hall. Avoid the area.”
