'Heinous' Acts Lead University Of La Verne To Cancel Classes

LA VERNE, CA —A series of allegedly racially motivated "heinous acts" led University of La Verne officials to cancel classes on Friday, officials said.

Thursday, a student at the university contacted police after receiving a social media threat, La Verne Police told Patch. On Friday, a student reported a backpack inside of a locked car was "emitting smoke" in their dormitory parking lot, according to Los Angeles County Fire arson investigators.

La Verne police are working to see if there is a connection between the incidents.

"Police are working to determine the source of the threat, and the University is cooperating and offering support to the students affected," they told Patch.

The university reached out to all students with information as to the investigation and the closure of classes.

"Over the past two days, the University of La Verne has received two reports of heinous acts targeted at members of our student body," according to a message posted on the university's website. "These actions are despicable and are an affront to our values as a university."

Regarding the racial nature of the incidents, the university officials stated they were in a "critical moment" and determined that they would "not tolerate this type of behavior." In response, the University of La Verne cancelled all afternoon and evening classes on the La Verne campus, Friday, March 1, effective at noon.

"The pause will also allow the university to assess this evolving situation and continue to cooperate with law enforcement in ongoing criminal investigations," they said.

Anyone with information on the event was asked to contact the La Verne Police Department at 909-593-2531 or the University Security Operations at 909-448-4950.