UPDATE @ 9:16 A.M. NWOSU has given the all clear after a potentially hazardous substance was found in the science building on Wednesday. The university says the substance was a bottle of picric acid that had crystalized. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol safely disposed of the bottle of crystalized acid before 8 a.m. on Thursday, prompting the all clear. Normal campus activities are expected to resume at 11 a.m. NWOSU's full statement can be read below. Northwestern Oklahoma State University officials have announced that the Alva campus is now all clear for faculty, staff and student return. A vial of as picric acid has been removed, and the campus will resume activity at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. During a routine chemical inventory by faculty, it was discovered that a bottle of picric acid, which is a substance commonly used in chemistry labs in its liquid state, had turned to a crystallized state. Once the chemical was identified as a potential hazard, administration was alerted and emergency procedures processes were activated. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol disposed properly of the crystallized picric acid before 8 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2025, which prompted all clear measures for campus. The faculty of the Natural Sciences Department, Alva Fire Department, Alva Police Department, Woods County Sherriff’s Office and Oklahoma Highway Patrol were instrumental in resolving this situation. “We are thankful to our local partners who responded to the situation quickly and aided our university in taking the correct steps in disposing of the picric acid,” Kelsey Martin, director of marketing and university relations, said. “I would also like to thank our Natural Sciences Department faculty for their actions once the substance was found during inventory.” Northwestern Oklahoma State University ORIGINAL STORY ALVA, Okla. (KFOR) — Northwestern Oklahoma State University is closing the campus and canceling classes for Thursday morning after a "questionable substance" was found in the science building. NWOSU says the substance was discovered by members of the Natural Science Department while conducting a chemical inventory on Wednesday. Experts were then contacted and determined the unknown substance was potentially dangerous. As a result of the incident, NWOSU is closing all campus locations on Thursday, January 16, until 11 a.m. while a crew removes the substance from the building. The university added that, at this time, the situation is contained and night classes will take place. The full statement can be read below. This afternoon, Northwestern was made aware of a potentially dangerous situation. Our Natural Science Department was conducting a chemical inventory when they found a questionable substance. Experts were contacted and they determined that the potential for danger did exist. At that point, we engaged our emergency procedures process. The safety of our campus is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we will be closing all campus locations on Jan. 16 until 11 a.m. while a professional team removes the substance from our Science Building. Northwestern is grateful to our local partners in the Alva Police Department, Alva Fire Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Woods County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly and were instrumental in assessing and containing the situation. At this time, the situation is contained and night classes will take place. Northwestern Oklahoma State University