All-clear after white powder evacuates Student Union Building II

Emergency and university personnel gather outside Student Union Building II after an envelope containing white powder was discovered in the mailroom Tuesday morning. The incident has since been resolved. (George Yanez) 

Student Union Building II was evacuated Tuesday morning due to a hazardous material scare in the building’s mailroom.

Mailroom employees received and opened a suspicious envelope containing “a white powdery substance” which hazmat officials has now determined to be an artificial sweetener, according to university police and school officials.

Shortly after 10 a.m. , mailroom employees discovered a white envelope addressed to “George Mason University” with no stamp on it. University Press Secretary Dan Walsch said that upon opening the envelope, employees found a “white powdery substance.”

The employees then contacted University Police who then called in the local hazmat.

Hazmat officials took a sample of the substance and conducted on- and off-site tests on the substance to see if it was dangerous. The Mason community was alerted to the situation via the text and e-mail notification system, Mason Alert.

At 12:04 p.m., a notice was sent saying the incident had been resolved and that “it is safe to return to normal operations.”

According to Walsch, University Police will be conducting an internal investigation to determine who is responsible for the incident.

“Whether they’re able to do that or not remains to be seen,” said Walsch.

 
Video
C2M's George Yanez was on the scene to document the white powder scare at SUB II.