Foot-powder prank closes dorm at UA

— Emergency crews shut down a dormitory at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on Tuesday after receiving reports of an envelope containing a white powder.

The incident turned out to be a prank committed by a high school student attending summer band camp, and the substance was foot powder, UA spokesman Laura Jacobs said.

Nobody was allowed in or out of Yocum Hall from 1-3:30p.m., and during that time two hazardous materials teams secured the site and investigated, she said.

Both the UA Police Department and the Fayetteville Fire Department responded, according to Jacobs.

Forty-two high school seniors attending band camp at the university were sequestered in the Yocum lobby before one of them confessed to the hoax, she said. UA did not release the student’s name.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 07/20/2011

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