The Vandal Alert system, like similar tools in use at other schools, was designed to promptly notify the campus community of ongoing threats to public safety, such as violent crimes, severe weather events and the occasional wild animal.

So it was, at the very least, unusual when a Vandal Alert on Wednesday urged people to call police if they saw a certain journalism professor on campus.

"Denise Bennett has been barred from Moscow Campus," the text said. "Recent admittance to police of meth use and access to firearms. If seen on campus, call 911."

The Vandal Alert escalated a feud between Bennett and UI administrators. After firing off a lengthy, profanity-laced email in which she lambasted higher-ups for perceived problems in the School of Journalism and Mass Media, Bennett was placed on paid leave Jan. 24. She also was accused of raising her voice at the school's dean and one other employee.