MORGANTOWN — Four West Virginia University students could be facing disciplinary action after making online posts that violated the University’s safety policy.
According to a Wednesday press release, the students involved have been referred to the WVU Office of Student Conduct where they could face consequences up to and including expulsion.
The students were sharing threatening information online, in violation of the University’s zero-tolerance policy for any behaviors that incite anxiety or fear concerning campus safety.
The posts have since been removed, however, according to the release, four different posts on an anonymous online platform were determined to be knowingly false.
This comes following a Community Notice that had been issued by the university Sunday, alerting the campus to an anonymous letter that suggested a possible public suicide on Monday. No such thing occurred, thankfully, the university said.
Executive Director of Communications for WVU, April Kaull, said the university does not have any reason to believe that these students are connected to the letter found last week.
Due to ongoing investigations into the posts, Kaull said they are unable to share any specifics related to the nature of the posts or the platform that was used, and the university does not have any additional information that would cause concern.
The university takes these actions very seriously, Kaull said, and in addition to referring to Student Conduct, will also work with the University Police Department to determine any possible legal charges that may be filed for violating local, state or federal laws.
“Anyone making these kinds of threats should be held accountable,” UPD Chief Sherry St. Clair said. “We plan to pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law.”
WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris said, “The Mountaineer family continues to reach out to one another and to take each other’s mental health seriously. We can have no tolerance for actions that disregard the mental health of others on our campus.”
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