A caller on North Jordan Avenue reported to the IU Police Department at about 11 p.m. Monday night that a student at McNutt Quad had seen a “spooky, demented clown” in the area, IUPD Capt. Andy Stephenson said.
IUPD searched the area and found neither a clown nor anyone who claimed to have seen a clown.
Rumors of clowns at Teter Quad and along Third Street circulated on social media and within group messages.
In response, groups of students left their residence halls and homes to hunt the clowns that were allegedly stalking campus. Others stayed inside and locked their doors.
However, no clown sightings were substantiated by police.
“We have no case reports on creepy clowns,” Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Steve Kellams said.
Campus reports and rumors followed a national trend of alleged dangerous clown sightings.
Rumors similar to those at IU spurred clown hunts Monday night at Pennsylvania State University and Nashville’s Belmont University. However, the respective campus police and security found no clowns.
Emily Miles
