Hate crime investigation officially closed

Campus Security announced Friday that the hate crime investigation prompted by vandalism in Niebuhr Hall and A.C. Buehler Library has been closed.

"The College's internal investigation traveled a path similar to that of the Elmhurst police, and also has not concluded with the identification of a suspect," said the Campus Security Team in an email on Feb. 14.

Last October, The Leader reported incidents of hateful vandalism found in a Niebuhr Hall bathroom and a gun threat at A.C. Buehler Library that resulted in the campus shutting down for two days.

Following the incidents, the campus organized efforts to meet with faculty to share their thoughts through town halls and open forums for students to vocalize their concerns.

The hate incident prompted changes to enhance on-campus safety for students such as having increased residence hall patrolling, installing or updating security cameras in locations, and revisiting the emergency communication policies.

Constance Mixon, interim vice president of Academic Affairs, said in an email to The Leader that faculty have been working closely with campus security since the incidents happened.

"Faculty are continually and strongly encouraged to attend ongoing violent encounter training sessions, offered by campus security," said Mixon. "On February 22nd, faculty will have the opportunity to engage one-on-one with campus security in individual classroom and building security assessments."

While the investigation is closed, EC encourages people who have information about who committed the acts to step forward.