In the past few weeks, Skidmore officials have issued campus-wide alerts twice for incidents on campus. The college, which continually reassesses its security protocol, met Thursday to look at the past few days’ events.

Early Monday morning, May 14, employees at Skidmore’s Alumni Affairs Department found a threatening voicemail that had been left on the college’s toll free number late Saturday night. After deeming the message a credible threat, City Police were contacted. Because the Alumni Department is located in Colton House, technically a Greenfield address, State Police also were brought into the investigation.

The threat made to the college by 42-year-old Joseph N. Gaudrault, of Beverly, Mass., mentioned a rifle. Officials said the voicemail did not mention this weekend’s commencement, but referenced the racing season. Although undergraduates left campus for the summer, nearly 600 seniors are still around for Saturday’s commencement at SPAC.

Gaudrault, a 1991 Skidmore graduate whose last known address was in Beverly, Mass., had no driver’s license, known address, vehicle registration or source of income at the time of the incident, and according to officials may have been homeless. He graduated with a degree in Economics, and was listed in the fall 2003 edition of the school’s alumni publication, Scope, as co-owning horses that ran at the Aqueduct and Finger Lakes racetracks. Officials had been in touch with his relatives, who were cooperating, but had not been in contact with him.

He was arrested late Wednesday afternoon by Massachusetts police in a Beverly motel. He did not resist arrest and no weapons were found. He faces a felony charge for making a terroristic threat and is being held in Massachusetts awaiting extradition to New York. The charge carries a minimum penalty of two years in jail and a maximum of seven.

“From the start, there was a high level of cooperation between all organizations,” said Dennis Conway, Skidmore’s Director of Campus Safety. “There was a lot of positive thinking that he would never even make it to the area.” Conway expressed appreciation for the work and support provided by Saratoga Springs City Police, New York State Police, Massachusetts State Police and the City of Beverly Police.

This wasn’t the first time Gaudrault raised concern at Skidmore. He was arrested for trespassing on campus in 2005 after stopping into the Alumni Affairs department acting as such to concern staff, and refusing to leave campus.

In the beginning of the month, Skidmore officials responded to an alleged rape on campus. A female student claimed she was raped walking between apartments late at night. The suspect was described as a man standing between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 inches tall, with a thin build. According to campus officials, no new information is available on the incident.

During both events, Bob Kimmerle, Skidmore’s Director of Community and Media Relations, said the campus followed its set protocol. The Campus Safety Department issued alerts advising the campus of critical safety information; specially-colored notices were posted throughout the campus and school-wide e-mails went out to all college addresses advising of any precautions to be taken. The college also posted alerts prominently on its homepage, where they can be continually updated.

Kimmerle said the college constantly re-evaluates its safety protocol and is always looking for new technologies to help it reach students as soon as possible. The campus’ safety committee and emergency team meets regularly to reassess changes. The college constantly looks at a number of scenarios, especially in light of the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, and even has a pandemic plan in place, according to Conway.

Conway said the college recently purchased an instant message system which will allow officials to IM up to 3,000 people who have the ability to receive text messages. The system can be used for crucial safety information, including tornado warnings, gas leaks or situations like this week’s threat. It also allows the college to keep students informed of events throughout the school.

A siren system also has been ordered and will be installed over the summer. The PA system, which will be placed in the center of campus and has a 3,000 foot radius, also has the ability to play vocal messages or recordings.

“It is crucial we are able to communicate with a large population in a short period of time,” said Conway. “We feel our current system works well, but we are always looking for new systems.”

The campus is no longer on high alert, however officials still are assessing safety for Saturday’s commencement.