'It’s a scary experience': UW-Whitewater lockdown determined to be false alarm
Updated: 4:37 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2026
WHITEWATER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A shelter-in-place alert at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater sent students and staff into lockdown Wednesday morning, Sept. 2, after a report of someone entering a campus building with what people believed was a weapon.
The alert was sent just after 11 a.m., telling students and staff to shelter in place.
Jodi Ratcliff, a UW-Whitewater sign language interpreter, was in class when the alert came through.
“We bolted the doors and turned off the lights,” Ratcliff said.
Police responded to Andersen Hall after a report that someone had walked into the building with what people believed was a weapon and was yelling.
The person left the building without incident.
Police later found someone matching the description. Authorities said they did not find a weapon and determined there was no threat to life safety.
For some students, the response was still frightening.
“I saw the sheriff pull up and ran past me with more rifles into a different building, and they were like, don't go back anywhere on campus, just get as far off as you can,” UW-Whitewater freshman Haley Yates said.
UW-Whitewater senior Jenna Hauenstein said the lack of information during the lockdown added to the fear.
“It’s a scary experience to be sitting in a classroom having alarms going off and you don’t know what's going on, no updates and just an email saying there’s a threat to your safety, so nobody knows what to do,” Hauenstein said.
Ratcliff said the experience left her shaken, even after police determined there was no threat.
“I’m still a little shaky because, while thankfully there was no threat this time, you just never know and it's very real,” Ratcliff said.
The university is back open, and classes and activities are continuing as normal.
Updated: 12:56 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2026
WHITEWATER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A safety threat to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater prompted an emergency response on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
According to the university, it was reported to UW-Whitewater Police an individual walked into Anderson Hall with what people believed was a weapon and was yelling.
The individual left the office without incident. Police later found the person who matched the description and determined there was no threat.
Updated: 11:41 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2026
WHITEWATER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater reported at approximately 11:37 a.m., there is no threat to life safety.
Published: 11:22 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2026
WHITEWATER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Wednesday, Sept. 2, issued an "active threat to life safety" at approximately 11:12 a.m. -- prompting the campus community to remain sheltered in place.
This is a developing story. Stick with CBS 58 News on-air and online for updates.
