In an era of university shootings, campuswide notices from college law enforcement that there is a danger on the grounds of the university are taken a lot more seriously than they use to be.

On Sunday, December 16, 2007, such warnings went out across the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina, not about a rampage shooter, but regarding the sightings of a cryptid cat, a panther.

One Cryptomundo reader forwarded the following note and two campus alerts:

I work at Clemson University in upstate South Carolina. We receive news alert broadcasts from time to time, through email from campus security. Two recent emails have cautioned people about large black mystery animal sightings in the center of campus, seeming to be panther-like in appearance.

The first warning issued:

ALERT: Unusual animal sightings reported to police

Clemson University police are asking students, faculty and staff to avoid contact with wild animals that may have wandered onto campus.

Police Chief Johnson Link said a contract security officer spotted what he thought looked like a panther Thursday near the Calhoun Mansion. Police officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Fluor Daniel halls.

Link said the department contacted a wildlife expert who said it’s unlikely the animal is a panther, but that it could be a cougar, a dog or some other animal.

Link said people on campus should avoid the animal in case it has rabies or some other disease.

“For your own safety it’s best to stay away from any wild animal,” Link said. “Call police at 656-2222 if you spot an unusual animal on campus or one that’s not acting normally.”

=======================
Issued by the Clemson University Department of News Services in cooperation with the Clemson University Police Department.

The second warning sent out:

ALERT: CUPD receive another report of panther on campus

Clemson University police received another report of a panther on campus today (Dec. 16).

CUPD responded to a call from an employee who reported seeing what was believed to be a panther between Daniel Hall and Strode Tower.

Officers searched the area but were unable to find evidence of a large cat.

An earlier sighing on Nov. 23, during Clemson’s Thanksgiving break, was reported by a contract security officer who spotted what he thought looked like a panther near the Calhoun Mansion. Police officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Fluor Daniel halls.

Police Chief Johnson Link urged students, faculty and staff to avoid contact with wild animals that may have wandered onto campus.

“For your own safety it’s best to stay away from any wild animal that could have rabies or some other disease,” Link said. ”

Call police at 656-2222 if you spot an unusual animal on campus or one that’s not acting normally.”
=======================
Issued by the Clemson University Department of News Services in cooperation with the Clemson University Police Department.

Due to this activity on campus, the local newspaper there ran an article about what was occurring.

A Clemson University employee reported seeing a big cat described as a panther or cougar Sunday [December 16, 2007]. The Clemson University Police Department responded to a call from the employee who saw the big cat between Daniel Hall and Strode Tower. Officers were unable to find evidence of a large cat, according to a public information provider at the university.

An earlier sighting on Nov. 23 during the university’s Thanksgiving break was reported by a contract security officer who spotted what he thought looked like a panther near the Calhoun Mansion. Police officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Flour Daniel halls.

Police Chief Johnson Link urged everyone to avoid contact with wild animals that may wander onto campus.

“It’s best to stay away from any wild animal that could have rabies or some other disease,” Chief Link said.

If anyone spots an unusual animal or an animal that is not acting normal, call the police at (864) 656-2222. ~ by David Williams, December 17, 2007, “Second big cat sighting reported on Clemson campus,” The Independent.

For international readers of Cryptomundo unfamiliar with the tradition in America of universities and other schools having individualized “mascots,” especially linked to their sports teams, it is an ironic twist that the Clemson mascot is a tiger. The Clemson tiger mascot is usually shown as a brightly colored, orange and black, upright suited person. In 1896, football coach Walter Riggs brought with him from Auburn University the “Tiger” nickname.

The paw print of a tiger (shown at top) is the “symbol” for Clemson. It was developed by Henderson Advertising in 1970. The Clemson paw is unique because it was taken from the actual print of a tiger.

Clemson University has an enrollment of more than 17,000 students from across all 50 states and 89 countries. Clemson University is located in upstate South Carolina in Pickens County, just north of Interstate 85 and Anderson, South Carolina, along the shores of Lake Hartwell.