A suspicious package forced the brief evacuation of Morrill Hall on Thursday.

A postal worker called University of Minnesota police after hearing a beeping or ticking sound coming from a package sitting outside the mailboxes in front of the building. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad cleared the package after it was discovered it contained a cell phone.

Just before noon the University of Minnesota issued a TXT-U alert saying the building was to be evacuated onto Northrop Mall. Church Street between Pillsbury Drive and Washington Avenue was closed for a time.

A short time later the package had been cleared.

Morrill Hall houses the University’s main administration offices. University spokeswoman Patty Mattern said she didn’t know if President Bob Bruininks at the building during the evacuation.