CULLOWHEE – A bomb threat was received by the Jackson County 911 office shortly before the beginning of Western Carolina University’s fall commencement ceremony, scheduled to be held in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center on Saturday, Dec. 13, prompting university officials to move the event outdoors.
WCU police evacuated the Ramsey Center at approximately 1 p.m., just as the ceremony was about to begin. Approximately 7,000 people, including about 600 graduation ceremony participants, were evacuated.
The WCU Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office are coordinating an investigation into the incident.
The commencement ceremony began in its new venue in E.J. Whitmire Stadium at about 2:30 p.m., about 90 minutes after its scheduled start time.
– WCU
