Creepy clowns have been popping up across the country, scaring the residents of at least 12 states, leading to several school shutdowns and at least 10 arrests.
Now the phenomenon is spreading to college campuses, with creepy clown sightings on the campuses of the University of Iowa, the University of Miami, Auburn University, and York College, among others.
Students are not happy at Sacred Heart…
DEVELOPING: Sacred Heart University students reported clown sightings near campus on Monday morning around 12 a.m.
— The Mirror (@FairfieldMirror) October 3, 2016
…or at Mississippi College…
When you hear there was a clown on campus… pic.twitter.com/fqhmco0m8U
— MC Kinesiology (@MC_Kinesiology) October 3, 2016
…at York…
My campus is being terrorized by a clown if you were wondering how college is going https://t.co/fS6IBeRXO9 pic.twitter.com/oFootwTeIk
— brendan (@brennan_fiestas) September 23, 2016
…at Texas A&M…
News: Clown Sightings have been reported around A&M campus
Me: pic.twitter.com/zz1aFKzfOr
— ImThatAsian⚜️ (@lukepogi21) October 3, 2016
…at the University of Iowa…
*clowns spotted on university of Iowa campus*
Me: pic.twitter.com/OIvr7K6pE4— G (@queeng1128) October 3, 2016
…and at the University of Miami.
Clowns on campus. pic.twitter.com/2PEChHir9x
— allaraeofsunshine ☀️ (@AllieReisinger) October 3, 2016
In some cases, students were preparing for the worst.
If a clown comes near me on campus today I'm gonna open a can of whoop ass like the RGV raised me to do. Then I'm gonna eat victory tacos.
— Ryno (@RedSoxmonstah) October 3, 2016
The clown sighting at Auburn appeared to cause the most trouble as the school’s public safety department issued a stern warning to anyone thinking about donning a clown mask and wandering around campus in the dark.
Unlike the normal, social justice-driven conversations about free speech on campus, Auburn was forced to struggle with whether to protect students’ ability to express themselves as court jesters and harlequins, against the safety of students scared they’ll be stalked by killer clowns.
