DUDLEY, Mass. - Northeastern University reopened Wednesday after an employee was injured by what they believed to be an exploding package. Multiple reports now claim there were no explosives involved and authorities are investigating if the incident was staged, but the initial FBI response had local campuses on alert.

Nichols College shut down its mailroom Wednesday, and President Glenn Sulmasy said it was important to be cautious and have a conversation about preparedness for similar threats, should they ever arise. 

“The first thing that goes through your mind is the safety of your people and the safety of the people at Northeastern and all colleges in Boston," Sulmasy said. "What goes through your head immediately is ‘What can I do? Have I taken the adequate steps, measures, and notified people? Prepared them and trained them in the event this is going to happen?'”

Sulmasy's decision to close the mailroom allowed time for public safety to check packages and ensure the room was secure. Prior to his time with Nichols, he was a law professor focusing on national security.

“Communicate, communicate communicate in a crisis," Sulmasy said. "I think that’s what we did this morning, immediately gathered the cabinet together and communicated as quickly as possible what steps to take, what steps we are taking and what we will do in the future. I think that’s the key from my background, the essential element in a crisis is to communicate to your people as quickly, as rapidly and coherently as possible.”

While it doesn’t appear the suspicious package at Northeastern University contained explosives, Allison McDowell-Smith, the chair of Nichols’ graduate counterterrorism program, said it’s still important to be vigilant, and her students can learn from the response and the aftermath. 

“It’s still a sign and a warning that we do need to be prepared and discuss, and sometimes they are sensitive topics," McDowell-Smith said. "But we do need to have those discussions in a safe environment where we can talk about different scenarios. What are our plans and what would be the process if something like that were to happen on our campus or here in the community?”

The full message sent to Nichols College students, staff, parents and alumni from President Sulmasy on Wednesday morning is copied below.

"In reaction to the events that took place last night at Northeastern University, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to keep the mailroom closed for the day. This will allow our public safety professionals and our local police to ensure the room is safe and all packages have been checked. We will continue to monitor the situation and put the safety of all students, faculty, and staff as our priority. Please keep your eyes and ears open, and if in doubt or something seems suspect, report it to the Department of Public Safety immediately. Our thoughts are with the Northeastern campus community as they continue to investigate this unsettling situation."