Officials now consider Northeastern 'explosion' a possible hoax after holes found in story



On September 13 around 7 p.m., a suspicious package was reportedly found outside Holmes Hall at Northeastern University in Boston. Jason Duhaime, a 45-year-old employee of the private research school, claimed to have spotted and opened what has been described as a pressurized Pelican-type case. Upon opening, the case allegedly exploded. Although Duhaime — who had injuries on his hands — was first believed to be a victim, now officials are not so sure.

The Boston Globe reported that Duhaime, new technology manager with the college's Media Studio, told investigators that the one-page typewritten letter found at the scene was inside the case before it allegedly exploded. Two law enforcement officials briefed on the case spoke to the Globe on the condition of anonymity. One official indicated that the letter was found neatly folded and undamaged.

The letter, characterized as rambling, condemned the university for working with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the U.S. government. The letter also threatened to destroy Northeastern's technology lab unless it stopped working on artificial intelligence and the metaverse.

Investigators weren't driven to skepticism by the unblemished letter alone. The case is not believed to have been sent through the U.S. Postal Service. There were no explosive materials or gunpowder found in or around the case, leaving investigators to suspect it may have been a "pressurized hoax device."

Duhaime's injuries were allegedly inconsistent with those caused by an explosion.

Boston 25 reported that the FBI has since visited Duhaime's former residence in Medford, Massachusetts, where his ex-wife resides.

Duhaime told the Globe on September 14, "I did not stage this, in no way shape or form. ... They need to catch the guy that did this." He went on to note his affinity for the college and denied again having staged the incident. "I cannot believe people are spreading rumors about this."

The university issued a statement on Wednesday noting that "the incident that took place on our Boston campus last night can create or heighten anxiety for many of us. ... Multiple law enforcement agencies have determined that the campus is safe and secure."

Notwithstanding the prospect of anxiety, one Boston firefighter who reported to the incident suggested that if it was an explosion, it could not have been very loud. "There were kids [still] in the classroom, so they must not have heard it. ... People did not seem panicked at all."

If indeed it was a hoax, then it will not have been the first in recent memory.

On August 22, a U.S. Marshal detained 50-year-old James Dean Fowler outside the Elizabeth Kee Federal Building in downtown Bluefield, West Virginia. Fowler, who had clad himself in makeshift armor composed of magazines, claimed he had a bomb in his backpack.

Fowler allegedly stated that he wanted to speak and to be heard about issues concerning national security and explained he had left a second device outside the Westminster Church on Washington Street.

After the federal courthouse, the church, and surrounding areas were evacuated, bomb squads arrived. Both devices Fowler had indicated were bombs were determined to be hoax devices.

According to the Bluefield Police Department, Fowler was charged with two counts of possession or use of a hoax bomb in commission of a felony, one count of false reports concerning bombs or explosive devices, and two counts of threats of terrorist acts.

Northwestern Students Burn and Vandalize School Property at Anti-Police Protests

Students at Northwestern University vandalized and burned school property on the sixth consecutive night of anti-police protests.

The post Northwestern Students Burn and Vandalize School Property at Anti-Police Protests appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.

Northeastern University dismisses 11 students for breaking COVID-19 rules by partying. They won’t get their $36,500 tuition back.



Northeastern University has dismissed 11 first-year students after they were allegedly caught at a party, a violation of the school's COVID-19 restrictions. The students who broke the university's social distancing rules will learn a very costly lesson because their tuition will reportedly not be refunded. That had better have been one heck of a party.

Northeastern University announced on Friday that it had dismissed 11 first-year students for violating "university and public health protocols that prohibit crowded gatherings." On Wednesday, the students threw a party at a hotel room at the Westin Hotel in Boston, which is being used as a temporary dormitory this semester. Staffers from the university claim the students were not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing.

On Friday, the students were notified that they were dismissed from Northeastern and must vacate the Westin within 24 hours. Before returning back to their homes, the students are required to take a COVID-19 test at the university. Anyone who tests positive "will be moved into wellness housing at the university until they have recovered, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus." Once they quarantine and no longer test positive for coronavirus, they will be required to leave the campus.

The students will not be allowed to return to the school this semester and will not be permitted to take online courses. They will be able to return in the spring semester, according to Northeastern University spokesperson Renata Nyul.

The 11 dismissed students were all enrolled in the N.U.in Program, "an experiential, academic program that expands students' Northeastern education into worldwide locations." The program allows students to study abroad during their first semester of college.

The dismissed students prepaid this semester's tuition, which costs $36,500. Northeastern University will not refund that money, according to The Boston Globe. "Payments by the students will not be refundable, per guidelines of the N.U.in Program," Northeastern University said.

"On multiple occasions for the past week, students in the N.U.in Program have been formally notified that they must practice physical distancing, avoid crowds, and wear masks in the presence of other people," the school said. "The students were required to acknowledge that they had reviewed the program handbook, which included details of the COVID-19 requirements that are meant to keep everyone safe."

"Northeastern and its community of students, faculty, and staff take violations of health and safety protocols very seriously," Madeleine Estabrook, senior vice chancellor for student affairs at Northeastern, wrote in an Aug. 28 letter. "Cooperation and compliance with public health guidelines is absolutely essential. Those people who do not follow the guidelines—including wearing masks, avoiding parties and other gatherings, practicing healthy distancing, washing your hands, and getting tested—are putting everyone else at risk."

"Testing negative for COVID-19 is not enough," Estabrook continued. "We must practice all of the public health guidelines in order to keep ourselves and the community healthy. Together, we can keep each other safe, but it will require everyone's consistent cooperation."

The students are able to contest their dismissal at an expedited hearing.

Last month, Syracuse University suspended a group of students for "knowingly violating" New York state's mandatory quarantine order for out-of-state students.