Cornell University has announced the cancellation of all classes on Friday, citing the extraordinary stress that its New York campus has experienced in recent weeks. This includes violent threats against its Jewish community and an unfounded weapons sighting.

Friday will serve as a community day, a spokesperson for the Ithaca school confirmed the decision to HuffPost following its announcement to students Wednesday.

No classes will be held, and faculty and staff will be excused from work, except for employees who provide essential services, university officials said in an email to students, which was obtained by the school paper, The Cornell Sun .