By JOHN EBY
Niles Daily Star

DOWAGIAC – Southwestern Michigan College beefed up security at Dowagiac and Niles
campuses after a female living in resident housing who broke up with her
boyfriend reported receiving threatening calls from him Sunday evening.

SMC President David M. Mathews said this afternoon the college is
“working hand in glove with police” as well as the security firm with which
it contracts because she said he threatened to shoot her, although he has
been located in Illinois and has never been to either SMC campus.

“The biggest danger we face” to campus security is “domestic violence,”
Mathews said. “This is a threat of domestic violence case. Absolutely we’ll
forward a report to the prosecutor to stress that it’s a bad idea to make
threats.

“It’s a fine line. We made sure every office on campus knew his description”
so if he had showed up on campus 911 could be called.

More than 1,000 students enrolled in summer classes attended as usual.

“We’re erring on the side of over-caution to not become the place that
didn’t pay attention to threats or perceived threats,” Mathews said, noting
that student housing is locked normally and cannot be entered without
admittance.