Posted: Thursday, October 9, 2008 12:33 pm

TMP Photo by Kelly Hite. Students are told to leave class and security is increased after a credible threat to the MTSU campus was made.

Update: Murfreesboro Fire Department confirmed it responded to a series of small, intentional fires on MTSU’s campus starting at 3 p.m. yesterday and two more this morning.

“Right now we’re dealing with an act of domestic terrorism,” Deputy Fire Chief Cumbey Gaines said.

MTSU classes have been canceled until the middle of next week following e-mail threats Wednesday to faculty members and the entire student body as well as a series of fires near campus this morning.

"Today's events at MTSU are troubling, and I hope this incident can be resolved quickly for the safety of our students, faculty and staff. The university's prompt actions today are absolutely warranted, and I commend them for taking these measures to protect the university community," said Gov. Phil Bredesen.

"Unfortunately we have learned that at times like this, the best path is to err on the side of caution." Bredesen said.
MTSU President Sydney McPhee canceled classes shortly before noon, forcing a student exodus from campus. Dorms will not be evacuated. Classes will resume after fall break Wednesday, Oct. 15.

“Campus Police, in cooperation with local and state law enforcement officials, are actively investigating the situation, which involves a series of threatening e-mails and suspicious fires,” McPhee said in a statement to students and faculty.

Murfreesboro Fire Department responded to and extinguished three fires this morning near campus.

An assortment of local, state and federal emergency workers were gathered at the MTSU police station, including the FBI, Murfreesboro Police and Fire departments, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Rutherford County Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The threat came in the middle of midterm week as student prepare for fall break, which starts Saturday and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 14.

MTSU faculty and staff will hold regular business hours today and tomorrow. Walker Library and Phillips Bookstore will close at 4:30 p.m. today and reopen for regular hours tomorrow.

Even with all the precautions and warnings, some students aren’t all that bothered by the threat.

MTSU freshman Kristin Gooch and Cassie Clark stopped to get lunch before packing up and going home for an early fall break.

Gooch said she was in class when a school administrator came in to tell the students classes were canceled after noon.

“They told us not to stay on campus,” Gooch said, adding she was preparing to pack up and head home to Jackson, Tenn.

One professor finished giving a midterm after finding out about the evacuation order and released class shortly after noon. Other students were listening to a band and dancing on the knoll outside Keathley University Center.