SUSPICIOUS SUBSTANCE FOUND ON CAMPUS, PRECAUTIONARY TESTING IS BEING CONDUCTED AT STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN LITTLE ROCK

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - At approximately 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, a suspicious substance was discovered in the men's restroom on the second floor of the Arkansas Union at the University of Arkansas.

A University employee found a white powdery substance between the sheets of paper on a roll of toilet tissue. He immediately reported the substance to the University of Arkansas Police Department. The area around the men's restroom has been cordoned off and is being treated as a crime scene.

" This substance was found in an area where it should not have been, therefore we are investigating the matter," said Miriam Lonon, director of the UA Environmental Health and Safety unit. "Any time a substance, or situation is considered suspicious we treat it as a credible threat and take every precautionary measure."

The Fayetteville Fire Department Hazmat Team responded to the scene to assist with collection of samples. Those samples were taken directly to the Arkansas Department of Health for testing. Results are expected Wednesday. No tests were conducted locally.

The individual who discovered the substance was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

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 Rebecca Wood, University Relations, (479) 575-5555, rmwood@uark.edu