Brian Tedder/Collegian

For the second time in a week, a threatening message was found written in a men’s bathroom on campus, this time in Furcolo Hall, an academic building primarily devoted to the education department. UMass police responded to the scene and are currently conducting an investigation.

The entire campus, including Furcolo Hall, remained open with classes taking place as usual.

Students received an e-mail from Ed Blaguszewski, director of news and information, just after 8 a.m., informing them of the message and of the police’s response. It also notified them that classes would continue as usual, as well as asking students to report any suspicious activity to UMass police.

According to Blaguszewski, a janitor found the message early this morning, around 6 a.m.

This latest message comes on the heels of a strikingly similar situation last Wednesday, when students were informed by a near-identical e-mail that “a message threatening violence with a weapon was found scrawled in the second-floor men’s room of Bartlett Hall.”

A second e-mail was sent out later that night informing students that though UMass police were continuing their investigation, “the time frame included in the threat [had] passed.”

It again asked for student cooperation with the police. The similarities between the incidents have not gone unnoticed.

“We do think now there is some common language among the messages. There may be a connection,” said Blaguszewski. “We’re continuing to investigate. We’re hoping we can identify the source.”

In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, schools across the country have been taking steps to notify students of potential trouble before it happens. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education took steps last February to implement an emergency text-messaging system.

Students like Matilda Brown, 20, are concerned about safety and about police presence in the area when a specific threat is made.

“I mean, I don’t pack heat when I come to school,” she said.

Other students, such as Peter Rizzo, 19, regard the threats with skepticism.

“I think it’s stupid to think that anyone who was going to commit a legitimate act of violence would write it on a bathroom stall,” said Rizzo.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact UMass police at 545-2121.

Frank Vitale can be reached at [email protected].