By Samuel Rubenfeld
Staff in Bernon Hall reported receiving a “suspicious substance” on May 3 in an envelope mailed to the admissions office. The substance turned out to be harmless, though an investigation was still carried out.
The investigation included both the Village of Hempstead and the Nassau County police forces, who responded with Hazardous Material Teams.
The University sent out a mass e-mail to all University employees, students and faculty concerning the foreign substance and the subsequent investigation. “Police have assured us that there is no danger posed to any other building or space on campus,” the e-mail read. “The incident has been contained within Bernon Hall.”
Public Safety responded to the substance report, according to a University student who works as an ambassador for Admissions, who would only speak on the condition of anonymity. The officers sealed off the building, not allowing anyone inside to leave.
An employee opened the envelope containing the substance, the student said. “No one knew what it was.”
Public Safety then evacuated the building. Nassau County police arrived 10 to 15 minutes later and the county HazMat team dressed and prepared a portable laboratory in the parking lot outside Bernon Hall, according to the student.
Within 20 minutes, the HazMat team identified the substance as not posing any danger. “As soon as [the HazMat team] knew what it was, they let us go,” the student said.
The HazMat team did not test the substance inside the building, but rather at the portable lab. The student was informed that the substance was in fact crushed up antacids.
Other reports from students that work in the building said the substance was curry powder.
Public Safety reported the substance as consisting of Tums and a red sauce powder.
Additional reporting by Julia Matias