University News | December 16, 2013

Four Harvard buildings were evacuated after an explosives threat

A report of explosives shut down four buildings on campus today.

A report of explosives sent to the Harvard University Police Department and others by e-mail shut down four buildings at Harvard today: Sever, Emerson, Thayer, and the Science Center. Final exams that were taking place in the affected classroom buildings were postponed, and the residents of Thayer Hall, a freshman dormitory in Harvard Yard, were temporarily evacuated. Harvard and Cambridge police were among the first responders, followed by Massachusetts State Police. All four buildings were eventually reopened shortly before 3 p.m.

For extensive coverage of the morning’s events, see the reports in the Crimson or from WBUR.

You might also like

Ornate wrought iron gate detail against a clear blue sky.

FAS leaders say restructuring will be complete by mid-October.

A man smiling in a blue shirt next to a white gate with a plaque and greenery.

The award-winning international journalist has served as interim curator since 2025.

University Hall exterior with ornate windows and greenery.

College staff whose jobs will be changed or eliminated were notified this week.

Most popular

A woman with long hair stands confidently with crossed arms next to a pickup truck.

In her memoir All That's Unseen, Emilee Hackney explores religion, friendship, and home.

A woman with a black sweater and patterned scarf stands under an archway.

Tomiko Brown-Nagin has been named dean of Stanford’s Graduate School of Education.

An image of a magnifying glass examining a page that says "fact vs. fiction"

Sheila Jasanoff has spent her career studying how societies produce knowledge, evaluate expertise, and make decisions about technology.

Explore More From Current Issue

Star-filled night sky with the Milky Way arching over a rocky silhouette.

Science

There’s a growing movement to curb light pollution. It starts on your front porch.

An open book with a film strip emerging, trailing popcorn and a dancer silhouette.

Letters to the Editor

Readers Respond to Our Adaptations Survey

We asked people to share their favorite art adaptations. Here’s what they said.

Undergraduate Column

For both American and international students, growing up is like learning a new language.