A person dressed as a clown was seen near the entrance to Saint Mary’s campus on State Road 933, according to an email sent to the student body from Dave Gariepy, director of security.
In the email, Gariepy said the report was made around 11:36 p.m. Monday night. The sighting was reported to security and local law enforcement.
Gariepy said security and law enforcement searched the area but were unable to find the person. Notre Dame Security Police was also informed about the situation.
No additional reports were made, which Gariepy said indicates that there is no reason for concern. He said security maintained a watch of campus throughout the night.
The incident comes amid a series of reports of clown sightings from across the country. The sightings began in August in the Southeast region of the country, where people dressed as clowns tried to lure children into the woods with candy, and has since spread across the country. Threats on social media from said clowns and alleged sightings have led to official warnings from law enforcement, school closures and more than a dozen arrests.
Gariepy said students should call Saint Mary’s security if they witness any suspicious activity on or near campus.
