Campus Alert

GAMBIER, Ohio (May 2, 2007) The Office of Campus Safety and Knox County authorities have received new information about a visitor to the Kenyon campus who reportedly made threats on campus early Tuesday morning before returning to Indiana. College officials are urging the campus community to be vigilant while stressing that the man in question, Kyle C. White, has been warned not to re-enter Ohio, where a statewide warrant for his arrest has been issued.

White, twenty-one, of Columbus, Indiana, was charged with aggravated menacing after a loud argument with a female Kenyon student during which he reportedly threatened to burn down Caples Residence and reportedly said he had a machine gun. Campus safety officers, who questioned White and ordered him off campus, found no evidence that he was armed.

Meanwhile, after reading an all-campus message sent out by the College yesterday, another Kenyon student told College and county authorities today that White had left threatening messages on his cell phone, his campus phone, and the phone at his parents' house. In addition, the student said that his room had been ransacked Tuesday morning. Authorities are investigating whether these incidents are related.

After the incident early Tuesday morning, White returned to Columbus, Indiana, where a Knox County detective spoke to him on the phone this morning. Indiana police authorities have been fully informed about the Kenyon incident, although legally they cannot arrest White. If he returns to Ohio, he will be arrested, Knox County Sheriff David Barber has said. According to the sheriff's office, White has no prior criminal record.

Meanwhile, the College is circulating photographs of White on a poster. The photos are also available at the campus safety office. Anyone who sees White, or who has additional information that may relate to the case, should contact campus safety at extension 5000 or by dialing 0. As always, the College encourages students to lock their doors and to report suspicious behavior. Campus safety officers are increasing security patrols as an extra precaution.

White apparently came to campus to visit the female student, who is a friend from home. At least two students in Caples heard them engaged in a loud argument outside the high-rise residence hall early Tuesday. Contacting campus safety, they reported that White had made the threatening statements.

Prepared by the Office of Public Affairs
May 2, 2007