Fifteen years ago today, residents in the DeKalb community were reporting suspicious packages during the country-wide anthrax scare, according to an Oct. 19, 2001 Northern Star article. 

Two residents reported to the police upon receiving a stack of greeting cards and an advertisement from a phone company.

The University Police, DeKalb Police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department help a meeting to make sure they would be prepared for any anthrax attacks.

“Seven days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, anonymous letters laced with deadly anthrax spores began arriving at media companies and congressional offices,” according to NPR. 

A frightening year, the University Police made an effort to help NIU students feel safe.